Medical staff begin EGFR mutation testing for non-small cell lung cancer patients at Da Nang’s Oncology hospital. (Photo: VNA)

Da Nang (VNA) - The central city of Da Nang’s OncologyHospital, in cooperation with the British–Swedish biopharmaceutical firmAstraZeneca, has launched its first-ever Epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) mutation testing programme for non-small cell lung cancer patients inVietnam.

Hospital director Nguyen Ut said the testing, which has seen as the first inAsia Pacific region, will help non-small-cell lung cancer patients in thecentral region increase survival from one to two years with non-progressive ofthe disease.

“The testing system also helps lung cancer patients save time and money fromtraveling from the region to HCM city for three-week tests,” Ut said, addingthat the EGFR mutation testing will give results within 24 hours instead ofseveral weeks.

He said the 550-bed hospital has seen overload of over 700 patients, of which30 percent were local residents and 70 percent were from 40 provinces andcities.

As scheduled, the hospital and AstraZeneca will give free of charge testing forall patients in the first year.

According to deputy director of the hospital, Nguyen Hoang Long, an EGFRmutation test would cost around 5 million VND (221 USD) each including healthinsurance, while a tablet for non-small cell lung cancer costs 1 million VND (44.2USD) with 50 percent paid by health insurance.

Long said EGFR mutation testing also allows doctors to diagnose accurately,while patients will ease their pains from taking pills rather than costlychemotherapy.

Nicolas Jones, chief representative of AstraZeneca Singapore’s office inVietnam, said EGFR mutation testing plays as the most important role insupporting non-small cell lung cancer patients.

He hopes that the cooperation with Da Nang’s Oncology will provide an easieraccess to European standard EGFR mutation testing among patients in Da Nang andneighbouring provinces.

He said the launch of EGFR mutation testing will help prolong survival amonglung cancer patients and improve health care service in Vietnam, which isAstraZeneca’s commitment.

Nicolas added that AstraZeneca will provide testing procedure consultation andtesting as well as EGFR testing mutation technical training for physicians andmedical staffs of the hospital.  

According to the ministry of health, lung cancer has a high fatality rate amongcancer patients. 19,559 patients--20.6 percent of cancer patients--died in Vietnamin 2012.

It’s expected that the country would see more than 29,000 new cases of lungcancer in 2020.

ౠ The hospital has provided free of charge treatment and meals for the poorcancer patients in central Vietnam and free accommodation for their relativesduring treatment at the hospital since 2013.-VNA