Posted: 03.03.2022 15:13:00

Diagnosis, not sentence

Unique screening projects and the latest therapy methods: how Belarusian doctors treat cancer

Sensations and breakthrough technologies — that’s what everyone expects from scientists in the field of medicine. In this regard, Belarus has something to be proud of: we can easily name at least a few areas in which our achievements became the world-famous — transplantology, cardiology, orthopaedics. It is necessary to mention oncology, where there are more and more promising projects and intriguing discoveries. We will tell you about some of them right now.

COVID-19 trace

The fact that coronavirus somehow affects cancer was first discussed at the end of last year, and scientists do not talk idly: every hypothesis, even a very delightful one, needs to be confirmed. However, there are already some suspicions — Sergei Krasny, Deputy Director of the Republican Scientific-Practical Oncology and Medical Radiology Centre named after N. Aleksandrov, explained, “In 2020, the cancer rate in the country decreased by more than 25 percent. At first, we thought that people simply did not seek help because of the pandemic, so in 2021 we expected a sharp surge and many neglected cases. Meanwhile, none of that happened. According to preliminary data, the cancer rate is the same as in 2020 — about 43,000 new cases (55,000 cases were expected). This was the reason to assume that this is is caused by the infection itself. Mortality last year also dropped sharply, by 3 percent at once (that is, by 600 people), and this is a very sizeable figure.”

Breathe freely


Today, the country is implementing a project to screen for lung cancer in smokers.
Those who smoke more than a pack a day for 15 years can have a low-dose computed tomography once a year.
It is extremely informative and can detect even small tumours. This procedure is optional for other people because these patients rarely have lung cancer. The programme is designed for two years, however, WHO and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have joined the study.


Projection into the future

The treatment of locally advanced lung cancer using artificial intelligence is another promising area. Sergei Krasny states that it is not always possible to identify it in the early stages, “After all, next to the lungs are the heart, large vessels, spine, oesophagus, so tumours grow into these structures very quickly. To perform operations, the highest qualification of surgeons is needed, but procedures are often accompanied by serious complications. First of all, massive bleeding, which can instantly lead to death. Foremost, a very interesting AI method is being implemented. 
We enter the examination data into the computer, and the programme allows us to simulate the operation on the monitor. That is, the surgeon, in order to understand all the nuances, as it were, performs the operation even before the procedure itself — virtually.
Alpha, beta, gamma Recently, a unique instrument appeared in Belarus — a gamma knife, which allows performing the so-called radiosurgery. By the way, it has already managed to show significant performance.
“Recently, studies on the treatment of kidney cancer have been conducted at the Republican Scientific-Practical Oncology and Medical Radiology Centre. This type of cancer is considered a tumour resistant to radiation therapy, but with the help of this instrument, we have obtained a good result both in relation to primary tumours and metastases. 
For instance, a gamma knife is effective for patients who have very high risks during surgery due to numerous comorbidities. We have already checked the three-year survival rate in these people — none of them relapsed.”

There are no analogues


In our country, a unique medicine is produced — the Photolon photosensitiser, which works better than foreign analogues. The drug selectively accumulates in the tumour tissue, and during laser irradiation, the so-called singlet oxygen is released, which breaks the tumour cells. 
But there is also a disadvantage: the laser does not penetrate deep into the tissues (no more than half a centimetre), so the method can only be used for external localisations.

The devil is in the details

Our oncologists have completed a study on the treatment of ocular melanoma.
Previously, with that diagnosis, a person had only one way out — a surgery to remove the eye, but now methods of organ preservation treatment have been developed using contact radiation and photodynamic therapy. Moreover, both with primary ocular melanomas and with recurrent ones.
“We realised that these methods, in terms of efficiency, give the same results as the eye removal, but allow us to save the organ and, moreover, a certain level of vision. This is a unique result,” believes Sergei Krasny, “treatment methods have already been included in national standards, and we are happy to share them with foreign colleagues. After all, we have accumulated one of the largest experiences in the world in this area.”


EXPERTS ONLY
Treatment of patients in Belarus is carried out exclusively in specialised cancer centres. They include two republican centres (the Republican Scientific-Practical Oncology and Medical Radiology Centre named after N. Aleksandrov and the Belarusian Research Centre for Paediatric Oncology, Haematology and Immunology) and 14 dispensaries (regional, inter-district, and Minsk cancer centre). It is here that the best specialists, the most modern equipment, and medical drugs are concentrated. Thus, at a low cost, it is possible to obtain the maximum result.


FACTS AND FIGURES
According to preliminary data from the Belarusian Cancer Registry, about 43,000 new cases of cancer were registered last year. The same statistics were in 2020. In 2019, 54,500 new cases were registered. In total, over the past two years, the decline has been more than 25,000 new 
cases.

By Khristina Glushko
Open source photos