Contents

1.

 Editorial:
Colorectal Cancer
   

2.

Latest news in colorectal cancer and registry
   

4.

Surgical update on colorectal metastases - a new hope for life
   

5.

Virtual colonoscopy - should it replace standard optical colonoscopy?
   

6.

Targeted therapy in colorectal cancers
   

8.

Role of chemoprevention in colorectal cancer
   
9. FDG Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in upper GI malignancies
   

10.

 Care of the colostomy
   
11. Low residual diets & nutrition for patients with colostomy
   
 

NCC Roundup
   
 

Staff Directory
   
 

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NCC Roundup
 
 

Geriatric oncology in NCC

The need for specialist care for the elderly with cancer is increasingly recognized globally.

This relatively new field of subspecialty interest is fuelled by three factors – an aging population with increased cancer incidence in the elderly thus imposing a greater disease burden, altered ability of drug handling in the elderly and interaction with increased comorbidities, and lastly, a void in the clinical evidence for formulation of treatment guidelines.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) news forum publication in October 2006 has placed geriatrics at the forefront of oncology. NCC is in the process of starting a Geriatric Oncology service as part of the Centre’s drive to provide comprehensive cancer care.

This service aims to incorporate comprehensive geriatric assessment tools to selected elderly patients for treatment, prognostication, and tailor treatment to the individual using state-of-the-art pharmacogenomic methods to minimize toxicities while optimizing effectiveness of therapy.

A strong partnership with other specialists in the fields of clinical pharmacology, geriatrics medicine and palliative medicine is a key pillar of this new service. A combined multidisciplinary inpatient round with the geriatricians has already started successfully.

Active clinical research will allow the above ideals to be achieved. NCC will be represented in this year’s International Society of Geriatric Oncology 6th Annual Meeting.

Drs Donald Poon and Joanne Ngeow will present their work – an analysis of the impact of age, performance status, and comorbidity on clinical outcomes in treatment of elderly patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma in a completed NCC trial SQLU01 of which Dr Leong Swan Swan was the Principal Investigator.

Further research will be done in NCC to refine treatment algorithms with pharmacogenomics profiling. Dr Poon recently completed a HMDP stint in H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Centre in Tampa, Florida where the world’s first geriatric oncology division was formed.

An active international collaboration in clinical research has blossomed between the Centres. More clinical research projects are in the pipeline and the outpatient geriatric oncology service will be launched in 2007.

Donald Poon
Associate Consultant
Medical Oncology
National Cancer Centre