Latest news with #Bourhis
Al-Ahram Weekly
30-06-2025
- Health
- Al-Ahram Weekly
EXCLUSIVE - ‘Fighting cancer knows no borders': Prof. Bourhis on Egypt-France cancer care partnership - Health - Life & Style
Renowned French haematologist and bone marrow transplant specialist Professor Jean-Henri Bourhis spoke in an interview with Ahram Online during his 48-hour mission to Egypt about the growing alliance between Gustave Roussy, one of Europe's leading cancer centres, and Egyptian institutions and why cross-border cancer care matters more than ever. In this interview, conducted shortly before he departed from Cairo on 27 June, Professor Bourhis reflected on the significance of international partnerships in oncology and the shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality cancer care. During his visit on 25 and 26 June, he conducted free consultations and medical examinations for patients with leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. The trip formed part of a broader collaboration between France and Egypt, following an agreement signed in April by Egypt's Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar and Gustave Roussy CEO Prof. Fabrice Barlesi to establish the French institute's first international oncology centre in Cairo — a project endorsed by Presidents Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Emmanuel Macron. Ahram Online (AO): Professor Bourhis, what inspired this visit to Egypt? Dr Jean-Henri Bourhis (JB): It's part of Gustave Roussy's international mission. Since our founding in 1922, we've believed in a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment. That includes forming meaningful, long-term partnerships with other institutions. Egypt is now one of those key partners. AO: As part of the Gustave Roussy institution, what does it mean to you, personally, to be part of this collaboration? JB: In France, we value liberty, equality, and fraternity—and those principles apply to science. We believe in sharing innovation. Cancer doesn't care about borders or languages, so neither should we. This visit reflects that spirit. I visited two hospitals and met impressive medical teams. Their knowledge, enthusiasm, and professionalism were clear. We discussed complex haematology cases, including multiple myeloma, leukaemias, and other conditions. AO: What is your impression of cancer treatment during the visit? JB: Very positive. Diagnostic and treatment protocols are well-managed. Egyptian teams are skilled in applying prognostic factors and therapeutic strategies effectively. That's a very solid foundation. AO: Where do you see the main challenges? JB: The talent is here; the will is here. However, some factors—such as sterile airflow rooms and air and water treatment systems—require ongoing investment. That's essential for advanced therapies and infection control. While academic research plays a significant role, much of the innovation also comes from biotech and pharmaceutical companies. These companies are brilliant, but they are driven by profit. So, we need to strike a balance between academic research and corporate-led research to avoid potential pitfalls or limitations. Clinical research is a key point. The shift must be from 'excellent care' to 'excellent care + clinical research.' That requires standardized treatment protocols, centralized data systems, and a team-wide mindset change. The tools are there, but the framework needs to be structured. AO: Could this new Gustave Roussy partnership transform cancer care in the region? JB: Absolutely. This initiative can serve as a model for others to follow. We're not replacing what Egyptian doctors and hospitals are already doing—on the contrary, we're supporting and amplifying it. By building secure patient data systems and treatment pathways, we can improve survival rates. Many children with leukaemia may not receive the full treatment or discontinue it due to systemic issues. That's something we must address. AO: What is the role of AI in your field today? JB: AI is a powerful tool in both diagnosis and treatment planning. It can detect patterns across imaging, molecular data, and patient history, identifying rare subtypes and predicting responses. In imaging, AI assists radiologists with complex scans. It's exciting and transformative. AO: Let's talk data. How important is it in cancer care and research? JB: It's foundational. Without data, there's no research. We need digital, accessible databases to track treatments, responses, and long-term outcomes—not just within one hospital but nationally. Registries help us know what's happening with different types of cancer across the country. AO: A tough question — what are your top three pieces of advice to avoid cancer? JB: Avoiding known carcinogens such as tobacco, excessive alcohol, and unhealthy diets is crucial in reducing cancer risk. It's also essential to undergo early screening, particularly for individuals with a family history of cancer, as timely detection can save lives. Lastly, trusting in multidisciplinary care is key—collaboration among doctors from various specialities often leads to the most effective treatment strategies. AO: Does mental health influence cancer development? JB: Not directly. However, lifestyle and stress influence behaviour, including diet, sleep, and physical activity, all of which impact overall health. Mental well-being is indirectly related to cancer prevention. AO: Any final thoughts before you leave? JB: I'm truly glad about the partnership between our institution and the Egyptian medical community. It's not just a symbolic or virtual link—we're building real connections. Egypt is a key partner for us moving forward. The people here are highly educated, enthusiastic, and full of potential. The country can become a central hub for excellence in cancer care in the region. We hope to support clinical care and help launch more robust clinical research projects. Egypt's medical network is evolving from strong clinical practice into research excellence—and that's the future. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
29-06-2025
- Health
- Al-Ahram Weekly
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: ‘Fighting cancer knows no borders': French oncologist backs Egypt–France cancer care partnership - Health - Life & Style
On a 48-hour mission to Egypt, renowned French haematologist and bone marrow transplant specialist Professor Jean-Henri Bourhis spoke to Ahram Online about the growing alliance between Gustave Roussy—one of Europe's leading cancer centres—and Egyptian institutions, and why cross-border cancer care matters more than ever. In this interview, conducted shortly before he departed from Cairo on 27 June, Prof. Bourhis reflected on the significance of international partnerships in oncology and the shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality cancer care. During his visit on 25 and 26 June, he conducted free consultations and medical examinations for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. The trip formed part of a broader collaboration between France and Egypt, following an agreement signed in April by Egypt's Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar and Gustave Roussy CEO Prof. Fabrice Barlesi to establish the French institute's first international oncology centre in Cairo — a project endorsed by Presidents Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Emmanuel Macron. Ahram Online (AO): Professor Bourhis, what inspired this visit to Egypt? Dr Jean-Henri Bourhis (JB): It's part of Gustave Roussy's international mission. Since our founding in 1922, we've believed in a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment. That includes forming meaningful, long-term partnerships with other institutions. Egypt is now one of those key partners. AO: As part of the Gustave Roussy institution, what does it mean to you, personally, to be part of this collaboration? JB: In France, we value liberty, equality, and fraternity—and those principles apply to science. We believe in sharing innovation. Cancer doesn't care about borders or languages, so neither should we. This visit reflects that spirit. I visited two hospitals and met impressive medical teams. Their knowledge, enthusiasm, and professionalism were clear. We discussed complex hematology cases, including multiple myeloma, leukemias, and other conditions. AO: What is your impression of cancer treatment during the visit? JB: Very positive. Diagnostic and treatment protocols are well-managed. Egyptian teams are skilled in applying prognostic factors and therapeutic strategies effectively. That's a very solid foundation. AO: Where do you see the main challenges? JB: The talent is here; the will is here. However, some factors—such as sterile airflow rooms and air and water treatment systems—require ongoing investment. That's essential for advanced therapies and infection control. While academic research plays a significant role, much of the innovation also comes from biotech and pharmaceutical companies. These companies are brilliant, but they are driven by profit. So, we need to strike a balance between academic research and corporate-led research to avoid potential pitfalls or limitations. Clinical research is a key point. The shift must be from 'excellent care' to 'excellent care + clinical research.' That requires standardized treatment protocols, centralized data systems, and a team-wide mindset change. The tools are there, but the framework needs to be structured. AO: Could this new Gustave Roussy partnership transform cancer care in the region? JB: Absolutely. This initiative can serve as a model for others to follow. We're not replacing what Egyptian doctors and hospitals are already doing—on the contrary, we're supporting and amplifying it. By building secure patient data systems and treatment pathways, we can improve survival rates. Many children with leukemia may not receive the full treatment or discontinue it due to systemic issues. That's something we must address. AO: What is the role of AI in your field today? JB: AI is a powerful tool in both diagnosis and treatment planning. It can detect patterns across imaging, molecular data, and patient history, identifying rare subtypes and predicting responses. In imaging, AI assists radiologists with complex scans. It's exciting and transformative. AO: Let's talk data. How important is it in cancer care and research? JB: It's foundational. Without data, there's no research. We need digital, accessible databases to track treatments, responses, and long-term outcomes—not just within one hospital but nationally. Registries help us know what's happening with different types of cancer across the country. AO: A tough question—what are your top three pieces of advice to avoid cancer? JB: Avoiding known carcinogens such as tobacco, excessive alcohol, and unhealthy diets is crucial in reducing cancer risk. It's also essential to undergo early screening, particularly for individuals with a family history of cancer, as timely detection can save lives. Lastly, trusting in multidisciplinary care is key—collaboration among doctors from various specialities often leads to the most effective treatment strategies. AO: Does mental health influence cancer development? JB: Not directly. However, lifestyle and stress influence behaviour, including diet, sleep, and physical activity, all of which impact overall health. Mental well-being is indirectly related to cancer prevention. AO: Any final thoughts before you leave? JB: I'm truly glad about the partnership between our institution and the Egyptian medical community. It's not just a symbolic or virtual link—we're building real connections. Egypt is a key partner for us moving forward. The people here are highly educated, enthusiastic, and full of potential. The country can become a central hub for excellence in cancer care in the region. We hope to support clinical care and help launch more robust clinical research projects. Egypt's medical network is evolving from strong clinical practice into research excellence—and that's the future. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The Star
01-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Immunotherapy drugs show major progress in early-stage cancer
SOUTH-EAST ASIA (Bloomberg): Drugs that boost the body's immune system to fight disease are showing promise in treating a variety of cancers in earlier stages, a development primed to expand their use and transform care for stubborn diseases like gastric and colon cancer. Immunotherapy treatments such as Opdivo from Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Imfinzi from AstraZeneca PLC, and Roche Holding AG's Tecentriq have become bestsellers by increasing survival times in a number of advanced cancers. Now the treatments are showing success against early and mid-stage cancers, according to results of large trials being presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago this weekend. One highlight is that the drugs are preventing recurrences in operable tumors that are at high risk of relapsing. "We're learning that immunotherapy may, in fact, be more effective when you have less of a tumor burden,' said Jean Bourhis, an oncologist at Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland, who led a study on patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. "The key is using it earlier.' Treatment for that kind of head and neck cancer hasn't fundamentally changed in two decades. Use of Bristol's Opdivo in the study slashed the recurrence rate by nearly a quarter after three years when used after surgery to help prevent a relapse. This development could impact about 40% of people diagnosed with the disease, Bourhis said. In a study sponsored by AstraZeneca, researchers found that using the firm's Imfinzi drug before and after surgery reduced the odds by 29% over a two-year period that a nasty type of operable gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer would relapse or progress. The development sets the stage for a new global standard of care for such cancers, which are particularly common in Asia, doctors said. Significantly Bolstered In a study on colon cancer, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, oncologists found that adding Roche's Tecentriq to standard chemotherapy used after surgery significantly bolstered the number of patients who were alive and disease free after three years. The finding represents a major advance in the field, the study's lead investigator said, and could help roughly 15% of patients with operable colon cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes. "We have a real potential to cure many of these patients,' the investigator, Mayo Clinic oncologist Frank Sinicrope, said in an interview. For the companies, expanding the use of immune drugs to earlier stage cancers may provide a new source of revenue to an aging group of blockbusters. "This brings a commercial opportunity,' said Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca's executive vice president for oncology research. The company has discussed with regulators the potential for the drug to get approved for the new use case, she said, declining to go into detail of where those talks stood. Merck & Co.'s immunotherapy Keytruda, which is featured in multiple studies at ASCO, shows how lucrative treating disease early can be. It has become the world's best-selling medicine thanks in part to its use in early cancer. Of the drug's 41 approved uses, nine are now for early-stage disease. Treating cancer early is "where our growth is,' Dean Li, head of research at Merck, said Thursday at an investor conference. "But it's not just economic growth. This is where you can cure patients.' Upending Medicine New immunotherapy results in head and neck cancer are poised to upend decades of medical practice. For patients with an aggressive form of head and neck cancer, the longstanding first-line treatment was to surgically remove the tumor and use chemotherapy and radiation to keep the disease at bay. The Opdivo study showed that adding the drug to the standard of care cut the risk of cancer recurrence three years after treatment by 24%. That finding comes on the heels of a successful head and neck study from Merck's rival Keytruda drug. In a big study presented in April, Keytruda reduced the risk of relapse when it was used both before and after surgery in head and neck patients. That potential new use is now under review by US regulators. In AstraZeneca's study being presented at ASCO, using Imfinzi before and after surgery was able to increase the number of people alive without a recurrence or disease progression after two years to 67.4% from 58.5%. "For patients facing a high risk of relapse, this brings new hope for long-term survival,' said Yelena Y. Janjigian, an oncologist at New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, who was lead investigator on the study. "It is a pretty big deal.' Will Murray, a 52-year-old retired New York police detective, discovered he had a tumor at the junction of his esophagus and stomach in April 2022. It was operable, but he was at high risk of relapse. In an interview, he said the high death rate from this type of cancer terrified him. But Murray received one of the last spots in the AstraZeneca study and got into the immunotherapy arm. His tumor started shrinking even before the surgery. And since the operation, it hasn't come back, although he did suffer thyroid deficiency, a side effect of immune therapy drugs. Murray now has to eat carefully and can't sleep flat due to the stomach operation, but he can mostly live a normal life, including taking long walks and going on trips with his girlfriend. He credits the immunotherapy treatment trial for helping keep his tumors at bay. "It saved my life,' Murray said. --With assistance from Danielle Chaves. -- ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Mint
01-06-2025
- Health
- Mint
Immunotherapy Drugs Show Major Progress in Early-Stage Cancer
(Bloomberg) -- Drugs that boost the body's immune system to fight disease are showing promise in treating a variety of cancers in earlier stages, a development primed to expand their use and transform care for stubborn diseases like gastric and colon cancer. Immunotherapy treatments such as Opdivo from Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Imfinzi from AstraZeneca PLC, and Roche Holding AG's Tecentriq have become bestsellers by increasing survival times in a number of advanced cancers. Now the treatments are showing success against early and mid-stage cancers, according to results of large trials being presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago this weekend. One highlight is that the drugs are preventing recurrences in operable tumors that are at high risk of relapsing. 'We're learning that immunotherapy may, in fact, be more effective when you have less of a tumor burden,' said Jean Bourhis, an oncologist at Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland, who led a study on patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. 'The key is using it earlier.' Treatment for that kind of head and neck cancer hasn't fundamentally changed in two decades. Use of Bristol's Opdivo in the study slashed the recurrence rate by nearly a quarter after three years when used after surgery to help prevent a relapse. This development could impact about 40% of people diagnosed with the disease, Bourhis said. In a study sponsored by AstraZeneca, researchers found that using the firm's Imfinzi drug before and after surgery reduced the odds by 29% over a two-year period that a nasty type of operable gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer would relapse or progress. The development sets the stage for a new global standard of care for such cancers, which are particularly common in Asia, doctors said. In a study on colon cancer, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, oncologists found that adding Roche's Tecentriq to standard chemotherapy used after surgery significantly bolstered the number of patients who were alive and disease free after three years. The finding represents a major advance in the field, the study's lead investigator said, and could help roughly 15% of patients with operable colon cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes. 'We have a real potential to cure many of these patients,' the investigator, Mayo Clinic oncologist Frank Sinicrope, said in an interview. For the companies, expanding the use of immune drugs to earlier stage cancers may provide a new source of revenue to an aging group of blockbusters. 'This brings a commercial opportunity,' said Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca's executive vice president for oncology research. The company has discussed with regulators the potential for the drug to get approved for the new use case, she said, declining to go into detail of where those talks stood. Merck & Co.'s immunotherapy Keytruda, which is featured in multiple studies at ASCO, shows how lucrative treating disease early can be. It has become the world's best-selling medicine thanks in part to its use in early cancer. Of the drug's 41 approved uses, nine are now for early-stage disease. Treating cancer early is 'where our growth is,' Dean Li, head of research at Merck, said Thursday at an investor conference. 'But it's not just economic growth. This is where you can cure patients.' New immunotherapy results in head and neck cancer are poised to upend decades of medical practice. For patients with an aggressive form of head and neck cancer, the longstanding first-line treatment was to surgically remove the tumor and use chemotherapy and radiation to keep the disease at bay. The Opdivo study showed that adding the drug to the standard of care cut the risk of cancer recurrence three years after treatment by 24%. That finding comes on the heels of a successful head and neck study from Merck's rival Keytruda drug. In a big study presented in April, Keytruda reduced the risk of relapse when it was used both before and after surgery in head and neck patients. That potential new use is now under review by US regulators. In AstraZeneca's study being presented at ASCO, using Imfinzi before and after surgery was able to increase the number of people alive without a recurrence or disease progression after two years to 67.4% from 58.5%. 'For patients facing a high risk of relapse, this brings new hope for long-term survival,' said Yelena Y. Janjigian, an oncologist at New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, who was lead investigator on the study. 'It is a pretty big deal.' Will Murray, a 52-year-old retired New York police detective, discovered he had a tumor at the junction of his esophagus and stomach in April 2022. It was operable, but he was at high risk of relapse. In an interview, he said the high death rate from this type of cancer terrified him. But Murray received one of the last spots in the AstraZeneca study and got into the immunotherapy arm. His tumor started shrinking even before the surgery. And since the operation, it hasn't come back, although he did suffer thyroid deficiency, a side effect of immune therapy drugs. Murray now has to eat carefully and can't sleep flat due to the stomach operation, but he can mostly live a normal life, including taking long walks and going on trips with his girlfriend. He credits the immunotherapy treatment trial for helping keep his tumors at bay. 'It saved my life,' Murray said. --With assistance from Danielle Chaves. More stories like this are available on
