Gurgaon: Cancer is a relentless enemy but not an invincible one, says Dr Pooja Babbar, under whose watch a 38-year-old man with a rare and aggressive head and neck cancer has made a remarkable recovery.
The patient with Stage 4 mucoepidermoid carcinoma battled the disease for over two years, with no success from surgeries or conventional chemotherapy at a Jaipur-based hospital.
But doctors under the care of Babbar — consultant and unit head, medical oncology at Fortis Hospital, Manesar — treated the patient, who has now beaten the disease after receiving advanced targeted therapy. Entrectinib, an oral targeted therapy, attacks cancer cells based on their genetic profile.
Dr Babbar told TOI, “Oral targeted therapies offer a focused approach by attacking specific molecules in cancer cells, reducing damage to healthy tissue. In this case, the treatment led to a dramatic reduction — around 60–70% — in tumour size within two months and near-complete regression by the fourth month.”
Earlier this year, when the man had arrived at Fortis Hospital, the cancer progressed significantly, with a large tumour causing visible disfigurement on the right side of his face and neck and spreading to his lungs, doctors said. The patient was in severe pain, experienced significant weight loss and was emotionally distressed.
Under the care of Babbar, the patient was assessed using next generation sequencing (NGS), a form of molecular testing that revealed a rare gene mutation found in fewer than 1% of cancer cases. This finding enabled doctors to shift from conventional chemotherapy to a personalised treatment plan using Entrectinib.
Despite the advanced stage of the disease, the personalised therapy not only halted the cancer’s progression but also brought visible and measurable improvement in a short period. He is now stable and continues to undergo maintenance therapy with regular follow-ups.
Dr Babbar laid stress on the importance of timely diagnosis and genetic profiling in delivering effective cancer treatment. “If there was further delay in personalised intervention, his survival chances would have declined drastically,” she said.>
