AGU hosts lecture on immunotherapy

Manama, Jan. 2 (BNA): The Medical Research Forum at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) recently hosted a lecture on the latest developments of utilising immunotherapy in the treatment of advanced gastric and esophageal tumours. The lecture was presented by Dr. Anwaar Al Musaa’ed, Gastrointestinal Tumours Consultant and Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas Cancer Centre in the United States of America. In the lecture, Dr. Al Musaa’ed discussed some of the latest American and international studies on the ability of treatment methods that depend on stimulating the immune system in creating antibodies and antitumours that kill cancer tumours in different parts of the body. In her speech, Dr. Al Musaa’ed highlighted the important role played by immunotherapy in efficiently curing cancer cases during the past decade, adding that it has achieved excellent results that couldn’t be achieved by following traditional treatment methods such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She said: "Immunotherapy treatment of cancer is considered as one of the most advanced treatment methods that are only available in countries such as the US and the UK, as it’s fairly new and oncologists are rarely specialised in it." Explaining further, Dr. Al Musaa’ed stated: "This treatment method is important for treating the advanced stages of gastrointestinal cancer cases. Immunotherapy and genetic testing of tumours have become an essential step in the diagnosis and treatment of tumours in specialised cancer treatment centres in renowned university hospitals in the US. Additionally, the American Cancer Society and the American Society of Hematology issued recommendations in recent years to include the latest immunotherapy methods that are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, FDA, in the list of approved methods of tumours treatment." It’s noteworthy that Dr. Al Musaa’ed graduated from the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences in AGU in the year 2005. She is specialised in treating gastrointestinal and liver tumours and leads a number of clinical researches in the same field in the US. A number of her researches have been published and presented in several specialised international medical conferences. The lecture was held as part of the efforts of the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences and the Allumni Association to invite distinguished AGU graduates to contribute to the scientific march of the university and enrich medical cooperation, as well as granting current students the opportunity to benefit from the scientific experiences of the graduates.