Recent discussions in Malaysia have shed light on the evolving role of stem cell therapy in cancer care, particularly in supporting patients through the side effects of chemotherapy. Speaking at a seminar on regenerative medicine and biotechnology in Kota Kinabalu, KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital oncologist Dato’ Dr Jaswant Singh emphasized the future potential of combining stem cell therapy with immunotherapy to develop new treatment strategies.
According to Dr Singh, stem cell therapy can help stimulate the repair of damaged tissues or organs. Lab-grown stem cells can be guided to become specific cell types, offering possible therapeutic avenues for conditions such as leukaemia, heart disease, stroke, respiratory infections, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and diabetes.
Immunotherapy, another area of development, works by activating or modifying the immune system to target cancer cells more effectively. Combining stem cell and immunotherapy techniques could potentially offer more tailored and less invasive cancer treatments.
Dr Singh was one of several speakers at the “Generative Medicine & Biotech” seminar, held at Hakka Hall and organized by Biolive, AIBTL Biopharma, and ABVC Biopharma. Other panelists included former Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Prof. Dr Su Yung Tsun from the Taiwan Anti-Aging Medical Association, and Associate Prof. Dr Angela Ng from UKM Medical Centre.
The seminar also addressed the role of proton beam radiotherapy, a treatment that uses proton particles rather than traditional x-rays. Proton therapy delivers energy precisely at the tumor site, causing less damage to surrounding healthy tissue. It is particularly relevant for rare cancers located in sensitive regions like the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses.
In Taiwan, facilities such as the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital’s Proton and Radiation Therapy Centre have pioneered this technology in Southeast Asia.
As medical technology progresses, these therapies offer insights into how regenerative techniques may complement conventional cancer treatments. Ongoing research and support from public health systems will likely shape their role in future cancer care strategies.
