Hope Rises For Nigerians Battling Advanced Colorectal Cancer

It is hope rising for Nigerians battling advanced colorectal cancer following the official unveiling yesterday of a landmark clinical trial.

The unveiling is coming amidst an estimated incidence of 3.4 to 4.04 per 100,000 population, with young adults within the mean age of 41 the most vulnerable to colorectal cancer

Details of the clinical trial were traded at media conference held at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos yesterday.

Providing some background, National Director of the African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO), Olusegun Alatise submitted that colorectal cancer had become a growing health concern in the country.  He painted a palpable picture of the danger of the ailment with data that many standard treatments such as chemotherapy have limited effectiveness.

Besides, he added, fewer than half of patients survive more than one year after diagnosis.

“The approval of this trial marks an important milestone in the fight against colorectal cancer in Nigeria.

“Our research could provide vital insights into novel treatment strategies, particularly for patients with limited therapeutic options due to genetic mutations,” he said.

According to him, the trial had before now, undergone rigorous review before full approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC)

Two specialised centres: the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife and Medserve LUTH Cancer Centre in Lagos are where patients would be admitted for the procedure.

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A Professor of Anatomic & Molecular Pathology at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, said the trial received international support in funding.

“The drug is supplied by BeOne Medicines, while BioVentures for Global Health provided crucial support in navigating regulatory approvals. The Thompson Family Foundation is providing partial funding.

”This trial builds on a groundbreaking study conducted at MSKCC that significantly transformed treatment options for some patients with colorectal cancer.

“We hope that this pioneering trial will lead to a similar shift in treatment possibilities for Nigerian colorectal cancer patients, offering them a greater chance for cure,” he stated.