THE National Cancer Centre of Singapore (NCCS) is embarking on one of its most ambitious trials to test how a drug works in humans.
It is coordinating a trial for an experimental drug for head and neck cancers involving 700 patients from 22 institutions over 12 countries.
The clinical trial will test how effective this new drug, called nimotuzumab, is, compared with the standard treatment for the disease now.
Head and neck cancers are one of the top 10 cancers in Singapore, with some 200 new cases every year. Without treatment, patients die within year.
Of those who receive the standard treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation for this disease, half of them do not live beyond five years.
Director of NCCS, Professor Soo Khee Chee is hoping to extend this figure to 60 per cent with this new drug.
