Participants at the 2023 BMO Ride for Cancer write and display the names of the individuals who inspired their participation in Atlantic Canada’s largest cycling fundraising event. This year’s BMO Ride participants will unlock a new era of cancer care by funding liquid biopsy technology at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. (Photo by UNCHARTED MEDIA)
Author: Brandon Young, SaltWire – Publish date: May 16, 2024.
Article originally published by SaltWire.com & QEII Times
In the quest to use a patient’s genetics to uncover whether they’re cancer-free after surgery, a revolutionary breakthrough is unfolding, where the patient journey is being reimagined with a simple blood test.
This isn’t science fiction; it’s the reality of liquid biopsy, a pioneering approach being introduced by a team of doctors and researchers at the Nova Scotia Health Provincial Cancer Care Program (NSHCCP) and the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
Their work is setting a new standard in cancer monitoring, enabling earlier treatment and pointing to a future where finding and treating the disease is less invasive and more precise.
Best of all, this healthcare journey will be powered by Nova Scotians from across all walks of life, bringing our collective power to the fight against cancer.
Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive method to detect cancer DNA, following surgery, in a blood sample without the use of traditional surgical methods.
It’s especially beneficial for cancers that are difficult to biopsy due to their location, and for patients who are too unwell to undergo biopsy.
“As opposed to having to get a piece of tissue from a tumour, you can get a biopsy just by doing a blood test,” says Dr. Ravi Ramjeesingh, a QEII oncologist on the front lines of the project, who interacts with patients directly, noting its groundbreaking potential.
The liquid biopsy project, overseen by Dr. Helmut Hollenhorst, Senior Medical Director of NSHCCP, aims to bring the new diagnostic technology to cancer patients in Nova Scotia.
The benefit for patients is followup testing and continuous monitoring that is more accessible and less daunting for patients.
“It’s really a quantum change in how we approach cancer,” says Dr. Hollenhorst, who oversees the entire spectrum of cancer care from prevention to survivorship.
“We will be amongst the first to deliver this personalized cancer care at scale in the country,” he says. “We want to bring this to Nova Scotians in a way that everybody can eventually benefit from it.”
The project, under NSHCCP, within the umbrella of Nova Scotia Health, is one of many cancer care projects that bring together healthcare providers, hospitals and clinics throughout the province to ensure patients have access to cancer treatment, support and resources they need.
The program’s main objectives include improving the coordination and quality of cancer care services, ensuring equitable access to care for all Nova Scotians, and integrating research and education into clinical practice.
And in a province that has one of the highest cancer incidence rates in Canada where one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime and one in three will die from the disease, this technology is game-changing.
“We used to have a one-size-fits-all type model and now we’re moving away from that model to tailor the treatment plans to be the most effective and appropriate for each patient,” says Dr. Michael Carter, medical director of molecular diagnostics for Nova Scotia Health.
His work includes analyzing genetic data to assist clinicians in delivering precision cancer treatments.
The information obtained from liquid biopsies holds potential to significantly influence treatment planning, as experts can use a patient’s blood sample to uncover whether they’re cancer-free after surgery and spot the earliest signs of cancer recurrence.
“If no evidence of cancer is found in the blood after surgery, clinicians may recommend foregoing chemotherapy in patients for whom it looks like there’s very little chance that their cancer will return,” says Dr. Carter, who believes the technology could help transform cancer into a manageable chronic condition.
“Conversely, if a patient has a liquid biopsy that shows tumour DNA in their blood after surgery, then they know that there’s a high probability that the cancer will return.”
This method of biopsy not only helps avoid unnecessary and stressful treatments but also expedites the diagnostic process, improves survival rates, efficiently manages resources, and doesn’t require patients to travel for testing — ensuring equitable access to advanced diagnostics, which is particularly beneficial for patients in remote or rural areas.
“Instead, patients can go to a regular blood clinic and have blood drawn,” says Dr. Carter. “From that, we can now get the same information, without any of the complications associated with tissue biopsy, and at a very low cost to the health system.”
Participants at the 2022 BMO Ride for Cancer event. UNCHARTED MEDIA
Health system improvements and new life-saving technology and research is where the generous, community-minded spirit of individuals comes in yet again in the form of BMO Ride for Cancer.
Since its inception in 2015, BMO Ride for Cancer, hosted by the QEII Foundation, has emerged as a powerful force, raising more than $10.3 million net to enhance cancer care at the QEII. This community-driven event has directly benefited countless patients through the funding of essential cancer-fighting technology and facilities.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, this year’s BMO Ride for Cancer focuses on the transformative goal of funding liquid biopsy technology at the QEII.
The impact of this event is seen year after year; it includes helping to fund the Ethos radiotherapy system with HyperSight, supporting Atlantic Canada’s first surgical robotics technology at the QEII, acquiring cutting-edge genetic sequencing technology, and more.
Each project, from enhancing precise tumour targeting to introducing less invasive diagnostic tools, showcases the BMO Ride for Cancer community’s critical role in advancing cancer care.
In fact, last year, BMO Ride for Cancer raised a record-breaking $2,372,669 net. These funds fully funded Atlantic Canada’s first and only CAR-T therapy lab at the QEII, which will soon be constructed, showcasing the community’s dedication to the cause and the continued growth of Atlantic Canada’s largest cycling fundraising event.
The event’s continued success is a perfect example of what can be achieved when a community unites for a common goal.
The gratitude of Nova Scotia’s medical community toward the supporters of BMO Ride for Cancer is profound.
“It has been amazing. It’s unbelievable,” says Dr. Ramjeesingh. “We’re trying to transform cancer care in the province and the reality is we can be leaders for cancer care in the country — but we would not be able to do this without our BMO Ride participants and donors.”
Dr. Hollenhorst adds, “The continued support of Nova Scotians in our work to transform cancer care is appreciated and so important,” emphasizing the collective effort required to advance cancer care.
And, of course, there is much appreciation for the event’s host organization.
“I certainly want to express, on behalf of our whole team, our gratitude to the QEII Foundation,” says Dr. Carter. “It’s been fantastic to see their excitement as we work together towards this big breakthrough.”
As Nova Scotia stands on the brink of a new era in cancer care, the liquid biopsy project symbolizes innovation, hope and resilience. While it’s early days for liquid biopsy in Canada, the potential of the technology has been highlighted in research studies and the team of doctors looks forward to witnessing its impact first-hand.
“With this, we will become national leaders, and in some areas, even world leaders,” says Dr. Hollenhorst. “Patients and families can be confident that the cancer treatments and care they receive in Nova Scotia are equal to, or even better than, the care they would receive anywhere else in the world.”
Meanwhile, BMO Ride for Cancer and the QEII Foundation continue to be at the heart of this effort, inviting everyone to support this vital cause.
Together, we are not just witnessing a revolution in health care; we are part of it, contributing to a future where cancer diagnosis and treatment are transformed for the better. To help bring liquid biopsy to the QEII or sponsor a BMO Ride for Cancer participant in your life, visit YourRideForCancer.ca.
