Manila: Abu Dhabi has become the first location globally to provide treatment for a patient with advanced breast cancer, reflecting the emirate's focus on precision medicine and personalized healthcare, WAM reported. The treatment was delivered under the supervision of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi to a patient in her forties diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. Genetic testing identified a mutation in the ESR1 gene, which is associated with resistance to conventional hormone therapies and contributes to disease progression.
According to Philippines News Agency, medical specialists employed advanced circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) technology to monitor molecular changes through a blood sample. This approach enables early identification of treatment resistance, before it becomes apparent on imaging or clinical symptoms, supporting more timely therapeutic intervention.
Commenting on the development, Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, said the future of healthcare is increasingly focused on prevention, early detection, and proactive intervention. She noted that the introduction of a new targeted therapy reflects Abu Dhabi's vision of building an advanced healthcare ecosystem that integrates innovative technologies and expands access to cutting-edge treatment options.
Professor Humaid Al Shamsi highlighted the importance of combining molecular diagnostics, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytical tools within clinical practice. He noted that continuous molecular monitoring enables healthcare professionals to make more precise treatment decisions tailored to each patient's biological characteristics.
The study found that the new therapeutic approach reduced the risk of disease progression by 56 percent compared with continuing conventional hormone therapy. Experts noted that the use of sequential ctDNA monitoring represents an important advancement in breast cancer care, enabling treatment decisions to be guided by molecular changes before conventional signs of disease progression emerge. The development is expected to further advance personalized oncology and precision medicine.
