Abu Dhabi’s Precision Medicine Program Transforms Care for 250+ Cancer Patients

Photo: Abudhabi Media office

Since it started in October 2022, Abu Dhabi’s first Personalized Precision Medicine Program for Oncology has been helping cancer patients with treatments that are designed just for them. The program, run by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), works with different partners to give these treatments to Emirati patients. So far, 256 cancer patients in Abu Dhabi have received personalised care, helping them get better treatment based on their genes.

Customized Treatments for Better Health

The program gives cancer patients treatment plans based on their genetic makeup, which is their DNA. Genetic counsellors and doctors work together to make sure the treatment is as effective as possible. Patients who are part of the program get tested for 47 different genes to improve their care. This helps doctors know how to treat them in the best way possible.

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The program also helps patients' families. If a cancer patient has a gene that might cause cancer, the family members of the patient also get special plans to prevent cancer. In total, 207 family members of the patients received these prevention plans to help stop cancer from passing on to the next generation.

Helping More People with Early Tests

The program is also helping more people by finding those who may be at risk of getting cancer in the future. They selected 200 Emirati people between the ages of 25 and 50 from a program called the Emirati Genome Program (EGP) and tested them for certain gene changes. These changes might make people more likely to get breast, ovarian, colorectal, or lung cancer.

For those who had a higher risk of getting cancer, the program made special plans to help prevent it. Even people who didn’t have any symptoms were sent to special clinics where doctors could keep an eye on their health and help them make lifestyle changes to lower their risk of cancer.

Leaders Behind the Program

Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, who works at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, talked about how important it is for everyone to work together to improve healthcare. She said, “Genomic technology is changing healthcare, and by working with our partners, we can make important discoveries that will help treat and prevent diseases.” She also shared that the program’s goal is to focus on other diseases in the future, not just cancer, to help improve the health of everyone in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Al Mannaei explained that the program is about making sure treatments are tailored to each person’s needs. She said, “We want to make Abu Dhabi a leader in precision medicine by using technology to create better treatments.”

Working Together for Better Cancer Care

Dr. Stephen Grobmyer, from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, praised the program and said it was possible because of the support from the UAE's leadership. He said, “This program is important for cancer treatment and prevention in the country. We hope to use our resources and knowledge to make cancer care better for everyone.”

The program has already made a big difference by giving people treatments that are made just for them. It has made treatments more effective, helped reduce side effects, and provided important information about how to handle cancer. This approach has also helped prevent cancer from becoming resistant to treatment and has given doctors better tools to understand how cancer will develop.

Making Healthcare Better for the Future

The Department of Health has also introduced new guidelines to help doctors test for certain breast and ovarian cancer genes. This will improve how doctors diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer.

The Personalized Precision Medicine Program is a collaboration between DoH, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and G42 Healthcare. The goal of the program is to improve testing for cancer, help prevent it, and provide better decisions for treating patients. While the focus is on breast cancer, the program also works to reduce the risk of other cancers and will keep growing to help even more people.

Abu Dhabi’s focus on using new technologies and research is helping the city lead the way in healthcare. This program helps not only the people in Abu Dhabi but also sets an example for other places around the world.