Premier health institution The Medical City (TMC) is the first hospital in the country to offer RAS Biomarker Testing, a crucial step towards personalized and targeted treatment for advanced colorectal cancer.

TMC has teamed up with Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck, to acquire this groundbreaking technology that will help improve survival rates of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Merck is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials.

Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, is among the top five most prevalent cancers in the Philippines. It is also the fourth most common cancer in the world.

RAS is the key biomarker that helps in predicting the response to treatment of a patient diagnosed with mCRC. RAS genes are present in the cancer cells of all mCRC patients and they play an important role in the signaling of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is involved in the development and progression of cancer.

The RAS biomarker text enables oncologists to identify if the cancer cells have a specific mutation and if the patient is a good candidate for targeted therapy. The test also allows doctors to adjust or personalize a patient’s treatment program to increase the chances of a positive response.

RAS testing is performed on a small sample of tissue taken from the cancer during a surgery or biopsy. After the patient’s diagnosis with mCRC, a sample of cancer cells from the tumor will be sent for analysis. This will help the medical team narrow the treatment choices and select the most effective option for the patient’s individual type of cancer.

“It is highly recommended for metastatic colorectal cancer patients to have a RAS biomarker test right after the diagnosis or before the first cancer treatment starts. This will be a vital part of the patient’s personalized treatment plan,” says Dr. Beatrice Tiangco, head of TMC Oncology Unit.

In 2013, TMC formally opened the Colorectal Clinic, the first hospital-based specialty clinic in the country that offers leading-edge medical and surgical interventions and treatment for a broad spectrum of colon and rectal disorders. The Colorectal Clinic is managed by a nationally-renowned team of board-certified experts headed by Dr. Manuel Francisco Roxas, who is also the chairman of the Department of Surgery.

“We are ready for Stage 4, for mCRC. The RAS program will further strengthen our capabilities, advancing the standards of treatment in mCRC,” says Dr. Roxas.

The collaboration between The Medical City through the Colorectal Clinic, Institute of Personalized Molecular Medicine (IPMM), and Cancer Center and Merck Serono makes RAS biomarker testing available in the Philippines.

For more information, please call the Cancer Center at 988-1000 or 988-7000 ext. 6659/6214.

About the Cancer Center

The Medical City's Cancer Center is staffed by an accomplished team of cancer care professionals. The center works with experienced experts in surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, palliative care, and pain medicine to make sure patients receive the best diagnosis and treatment options. Aware of the fear and anxiety that comes with a cancer diagnosis, the center is committed to make patients as comfortable as possible as they go through meetings, tests and treatments, understanding that optimum cancer care involves the body, mind and spirit.

The unique benefits that the Cancer Center offers include an integrated and multi-disciplinary, team-based approach; innovative, minimally invasive surgeries and procedures; capability to undertake diagnostics and treatment at the molecular level; comprehensive cancer screening and surveillance; customized and accessible cancer treatment and care, and continuing patient education and preventive advocacy interventions.