RIYADH: The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has accepted 17 abstracts from the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC) in Riyadh for presentation at its 100th annual meeting to be held in Denver, Colorado, for five days from April 18.
“Acceptance of such a large number of abstracts from a single institution reflects the high level of scientific output in our research center,” Dr. Qasim Al-Qasabi, chief executive officer of KFSH&RC, said yesterday.
Besides integration and cooperation between research and clinical aspects for the success of any medical research, the center is enriched with highly qualified scientists, he added.
“The 17 abstracts that were selected for presentation were accomplished because of the dedication of the research team of Human Cancer Gene Research, headed by Dr. Khawla Al-Kuraya, the principal scientist at the research center,” Al-Qasabi said, adding that the papers were written to improve the overall survival rate of cancer patients in Saudi Arabia.
A team of six doctors from the center headed by Al-Kuraya will present these papers at the forthcoming meet.
“This is the first time the American Association for Cancer Research has accepted this number of abstracts from abroad,” Al-Kuraya said, adding that in 2006 only one abstract was accepted by the AACR from KFSH&RC. The number increased to five in 2007, 13 in 2008 and 17 in 2009.
All past abstracts have been transformed into full-length manuscripts that have been published in highly reputable, peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Al-Kuraya stated that the abstracts cover almost all types of cancer that are prevalent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including thyroid cancer, colorectal carcinoma, lymphoma and ovarian cancer.
“The research conducted in these abstracts include state-of-the-art techniques leading to exploration of different genes and proteins that play a role in the development of these cancers,” the researcher noted.
She said symptoms for colorectal cancer among middle-aged men include loss of appetite, weight loss, bleeding while passing stool and change in regular bowel systems. “These signs are not necessarily the real symptoms for colorectal cancer, clinical tests will confirm the disease,” she said, adding that consumption of fatty foods is one of the main causes of such cancer.
“In the West, the incidence is on the decline because of organized awareness programs, while in the Middle East similar programs should be intensified to reap similar results,” she said.
KFSH&RC in Riyadh is an 894-bed, multispecialty tertiary care hospital and one of the leading health care institutions in the region.
