Medical research in Hong Kong continues to gain global recognition despite the city’s smaller scale. Dr. Jeremy Teoh, Associate Professor and Assistant Dean at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), highlighted Hong Kong’s unique ability to bridge Eastern and Western medical practices during a recent discussion. He emphasized the importance of international collaborations and the role Hong Kong plays in elevating global research standards, particularly in the field of urology. Dr. Teoh stressed that government and institutional support are vital for fostering the next generation of medical leaders and ensuring that Hong Kong remains a key player in clinical trials and biotechnology.
Hong Kong’s medical research is largely shaped by two leading institutions: the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and CUHK. Dr. Teoh explained that CUHK, with its younger and more dynamic faculty, offers a flexible environment for young researchers to thrive. His own journey into academia began at Prince of Wales Hospital, where he met his mentor and found ample opportunities for growth. His work focuses on urological cancers, specifically bladder cancer, and his team is leading advancements in a surgical technique known as en bloc resection of bladder tumors, which has shown significant promise in reducing recurrence rates.
En Bloc Resection: Revolutionizing Bladder Cancer Surgery
Dr. Teoh detailed the advancements in bladder cancer medical research over the past centuries. Early methods for visualizing and treating bladder tumors were rudimentary, involving metal tubes and candlelight for illumination. This progressed to the use of resectoscopes, which allowed for piecemeal removal of tumors but carried risks of tumor spillage and recurrence. Today, en bloc resection offers a more advanced technique, preserving tumor integrity during removal. This method significantly reduces recurrence rates, as demonstrated in a multi-center randomized trial involving 350 patients across Hong Kong, where the one-year recurrence rate dropped from 38.1 percent to 28.5 percent.
Dr. Teoh noted that while en bloc resection is a surgical technique, it does not rely on patented devices but rather on a refined approach to bladder tumor removal. The procedure minimizes the risk of cancer recurrence by optimizing complete resection. Combining this technique with adjuvant treatments like BCG therapy further enhances outcomes, particularly for high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. In their trial, patients who underwent en bloc resection and received BCG therapy saw their one-year recurrence rate drop to just 5 percent, underscoring the importance of both effective surgery and post-operative treatment.
Expanding Global Impact Through Collaboration
While Dr. Teoh’s work is locally focused, the implications of his medical research are global. He believes that changing standard practices in bladder cancer treatment will require further randomized trials that demonstrate clear benefits. Hong Kong is at the forefront of these efforts, conducting trials that combine en bloc resection with novel therapies, such as J&J’s TAR200 drug-eluting device and Ferring’s Adstiladrin gene-mediated therapy. These collaborations could establish new standards of care not just in Hong Kong but globally, potentially lowering the recurrence rate of bladder cancer to as low as 5 percent with combined surgical and pharmacological interventions.
Dr. Teoh also discussed the potential for partnerships with pharmaceutical companies focusing on bladder cancer therapies. His team is leading a global registry for en bloc resection, with over 100 centers worldwide joining the effort to collect data on 5,000 patients. This initiative is set to provide real-world evidence of the technique’s effectiveness, which could pave the way for broader adoption of the approach. Through these efforts, Hong Kong is not only advancing medical research but also positioning itself as a leader in urology and oncology on a global scale.
Resource: PHARMA BOARDROOM, August 2, 2024
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