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Mithuruwela’s Latest Initiative: Establishing Molecular Testing for Breast Cancer at Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital
In June 2022, Mithuruwela the Cancer Support Network moved away from its customary activities which included awareness- raising and caregiver support, a news release from the organzation said.
“Inspired by an appeal from Dr Nuradh Joseph, Oncologist, the organization helped to support the establishment of molecular testing at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital. This initiative marks the first time molecular testing for breast cancer has been instituted in a state hospital and Mithuruwela is proud to be part of this endeavor,” it said.
Breast Cancer and Molecular Testing Of all the cancers affecting females in Sri Lanka, Breast Cancer is the commonest. Records of cancer in the island are maintained annually and according to data from the National Cancer Registry nearly 4,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
The diagnosis of breast cancer is a complex process which includes findings from clinical examination and imaging such as ultrasound and CT scanning. If cancer is suspected, oncologists then seek confirmation. This confirmation requires a biopsy whereby a core of tissue from a suspicious lump is analysed in the laboratory by histopathologists.
Explaining the process of diagnosis and treatment, Dr Joseph comments that if the diagnosis of cancer is confirmed, histopathologists then perform additional tests called immunohistochemistry which look to see if the cancer cells express certain proteins (called receptors) that may influence treatment.
Routinely immunohistochemistry is performed for hormone receptors (Oestrogen and Progesterone) as well as another protein called HER2/neu. If the hormone receptors are expressed oncologists will offer anti-oestrogen hormonal treatment while if the HER2/neu protein is over-expressed, patients will be treated with novel agents which specially target cancer cells. These drugs reduce the risk of cancer recurrence by 50% in tumours over-expressing the HER2/neu protein.
However, in some instances (approximately 10%) it is not possible to confirm whether the HER2/neu protein is abnormally expressed or not based on immunohistochemistry alone. When this happens the histopathologist reports it as an “equivocal” expression of the HER2/neu protein. It is uncertain if these patients will benefit from the novel targeted drugs mentioned previously and further molecular testing is needed for confirmation.
For these patients, one needs to check if the HER2/neu gene is present in abnormal amounts in the cancer cells. This is known as gene amplification. Testing for gene amplification is done by special techniques called in situ hybridization (ISH). About 50% of patients with equivocal expression of HER2/neu on immunohistochemistry will have gene amplification confirmed by molecular testing thus making them suitable for treatment with the novel targeted drugs.
Currently these molecular tests are available at a few private hospitals but not in the histopathology laboratories of government hospitals. As many patients cannot afford funding for these tests in the private sector, they miss out on potentially life- saving treatment.Molecular testing for HER2/Neu at the Teaching Hospital , Anuradhapura In recent times, molecular testing for HER2/neu gene amplification using available equipment has been established in certain government sector hospitals in the country.
The histopathology department of the Teaching Hospital of Anuradhapura is one such department which has the equipment and also staff that has been trained to perform the required tests. The problem however is the cost of the consumables that are required. According to Dr Joseph, to commence testing at Anuradhapura, the hospital would require a sum of US dollars 5,839 just to purchase the minimum quantities of reagents needed. It was this consideration that led Dr Joseph to reach out to Mithuruwela to request help in getting these funds.
In spite of the current challenging climate, Mithuruwela together with Dr Joseph and his contacts were able to collect the required funds, thanks to the generosity of donors such as the Tissa De Silva Trust, the Students Association of Edith Cowan University in Australia, well-wishers in Australia and New Zealand and a number of generous individuals in Sri Lanka. JL Morisons, the agents for the reagents also supported the cause by ensuring that the reagents reached Anuradhapura safely under refrigerated conditions.
The Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital is now in a position to commence molecular testing for HER2/neu. The tests will be carried out by Dr Jayanjana Ashanthi and Dr Sanjeewanie Jayawardena, Consultants to the histopathology laboratory at the Anuradhapura hospital.
Establishing testing for HER2/neu gene amplification at the Teaching Hospital of Anuradhapura will not only benefit patients with breast cancer, but will blaze a new trail for cancer diagnostics in Sri Lanka as it would be the first time ever that any form of molecular testing is performed in a laboratory attached to the Ministry of Health. Mithuruwela expressed its gratitude to all those who made this initiative a reality.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
