In a strong response to promote advocacy towards cancer awareness and cutting-edge cancer treatment in India, a group of renowned oncologists signed on the dotted line to conceptualize a consortium with the goal of promoting a clinical trials network in the country.
The signing took place at Illuminate 3.0 – a 3-day oncology townhall hosted by Dr Sewanti Limaye who was the Organizing President and the Convener of the meeting an Director of Medical & Precision Oncology at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, as a robust move towards enabling an framework of cancer-care in India that may empower patients with cutting-edge novel drug access through clinical trials and quality treatment. The clinical trial alliance was championed by Dr Sewanti Limaye with Dr Kumar Prabhash as Chair, and Dr Shona Nag and Dr Atul Batra as Vice Chairs. The consortium will facilitate shaping up the infrastructure to strengthen cancer care trials in India.
Prior to the signing, the forum was enriched with insightful discussions underlining the need for a collaborative clinical trials network in India, era-adaptive trials, and common pitfalls. The event also strengthened its cancer screening mission with the active involvement of Dr. Abhishek Shankar from AIIMS New Delhi, who contributed significantly to advancing scalable cancer screening strategies in India. The session also witnessed an elaborate discussion on making clinical trials accessible to Indian patients, along with the infrastructure and compliance dynamics required for the same.
Parallelly, a Patient Advocacy Alliance was launched to promote patient voice and bridge the gap between the cancer community and policymakers. Given the ever-growing cancer burden of the country, these discussions, backed by a call-to-action initiative, have set the blueprint for the future of cancer care in the country.
The platform witnessed the launch of the 2nd edition of the Gastric Cancer Book – a compilation comprising evidence-based diagnosis and treatment in which Dr. Sewanti Limaye herself and her team have been prime contributors. In addition to this, amid the presence of globally renowned oncologists, Roche Pharma India unveiled Tecentriq (atezolizumab) Subcutaneous (SC). A significant step towards enhancing cancer-care delivery, the subcutaneous formulation provides an alternative route of administration designed to maintain clinical effectiveness while simplifying the treatment experience for both patients and healthcare providers.
One of the most prominent events at Illuminat 3.0 was the launch of the “Liquid Biopsy Foundation of India”. Through this initiative, clinician scientists like Dr Sewanti Limaye and molecular scientist like Dr Prashant Kumar, come together to bring discussions around blood test for cancer detection and also for treatment response tracking, to the center of discussion.
Alongside, the discussions were led by prominent oncology experts from both within and beyond national geographies. Topics integral to shaping the future of cancer-care, like AI integration in cancer screening, the role of modern radiation techniques in gynecological cancers, evolving paradigms in gastric cancer, advances in colorectal cancer robotic surgeries, and HPV prevention strategies, were explored in depth.
Overall, the oncology leadership conclave tapped into the concerns causing roadblocks in imparting quality cancer care and life-saving practices in India, charting the roadmap of oncology practices in the best interest of saving as many lives as possible.
Commenting on the success of Illuminate 3.0, Dr. Tarang Gianchandani, Group CEO – Healthcare Initiatives and Chief Executive Officer, Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, said, “Quality cancer care remains a critical need not only in India but across the world. Addressing this complex and life-threatening disease requires sustained collaboration among medical experts, continuous innovation, and a shared commitment to saving and improving lives. Illuminate 3.0 is a meaningful step in responding to this global need by creating a platform for knowledge exchange and collective action.I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the medical experts and teams whose dedication and collaboration have made this platform a globally relevant forum for meaningful dialogue and progress. As we conclude this edition, we remain committed to building many more such initiatives that empower our country and the world with better access to advanced, compassionate, and quality healthcare for all.”
Dr Sewanti Limaye, Director – Medical & Precision Oncology, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, said, “Cancer burden both domestically and internationally has spiked multifold, and as per the statistics, India records over 1.4 million new cancer cases every year. What is more concerning is that most of them are detected at advanced stages, making treatment complex, expensive, and outcomes uncertain. Through this initiative and platform, our collective efforts are to make a humble submission to the Indian healthcare ministry to include cancer screening as a part of Ayushman Bharat. We also propose cancer screening and awareness to be mandated as a part of CSR initiatives of Indian corporates, with the sole interest to build an ecosystem that thrives on proactive attention rather than reactive response to detect, treat, and eradicate cancer from society.”