Step into the world of Dr (Prof) Amrit Kaler, MD as we embark on a journey through her remarkable career, passions, and vision.
1) What do you believe are the key qualities or skills that have contributed to your success in both your professional and leadership roles?
In the current complex scenario, there are many skills that comes into play to be successful at both professional and leadership role. One of them is core strength in thorough understanding of molecular biology, genetics, and pathology in the rapidly evolving technological advances in this field of Genomics. This allows to interpret complex test results, identify genetic markers for diseases, and correlate molecular findings with clinical presentations to arrive at a clear diagnosis. The second key concept lies in effective communication with the oncologists, surgeons and physicians to understand complex molecular concepts to ensure optimal patient care and drive precision oncology clinic. The collaboration with external partners for effective and advanced technologies help pave the way for realization of innovations that positively impact humanity. The third skill lies in effective patient communication to understand about the medical implications, assessing familial risks and providing a psychosocial support creates an impact on patient health. Prescribing the right test to the right patient at the right time is an important prerequisite for the implementation of a Molecular Medicine.
2) How can initiatives focused on cervical cancer prevention affect India’s underserved communities and what strategies are most crucial for addressing barriers to access and reducing disparities in cancer prevention?
The Initiatives on cervical cancer approach needs to implement an equitable approach to lifesaving cervical cancers screening programs and including cervical cancer vaccines as a part of regular immunization schedule. This holds immense potential for underserved communities like India. Strategies for women empowerment programs and government-initiated projects might help women prioritize their health to overcome cultural and social barriers.
3) Can you share any recent breakthroughs or developments in the area of immunotherapy that you find particularly promising for improving cancer treatment outcomes?
There have been several exciting advancements in cancer treatment like immunotherapy which holds a great promise for improving cancer treatment outcomes. One notable development is the advancement of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which involves genetically engineering a patient’s own immune cells to recognize and target cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy has shown remarkable success in treating certain types of blood cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, with some patients achieving long-lasting remissions.
Another area of progress is the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors, which help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells by blocking inhibitory signals that tumors use to evade detection. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in various cancer types, including melanoma, lung cancer, and bladder cancer, leading to improved survival rates and durable responses in some patients. Biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burden and microsatellite Instability test hold promise for guiding treatment decisions and optimizing patient outcomes. As ongoing research continues to uncover the complexities of the immune system and tumor microenvironment, we can expect further innovations that will revolutionize cancer care and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.
4) Dr. Kaler, your focus on connecting morpho-genomics to precision oncology is intriguing. Could you elaborate on how you integrate morphological observations with genomic data to tailor treatment plans for cancer patients?
Integrating morphological characteristics with genomic data usually helps in putting together pieces of a puzzle to understand which genetic tests can be advised for a particular patient. Different cancer types exhibit histopathological subtypes unique to the patient which are defined by the underlying genetic make-up of the patient. This might reduce the cost of the running tests uniformly and help in identifying what all patients need to get screened for molecular tests. It’s very intriguing how different molecular driver mutations define molecular biology and the histopathological pattern under the slide like micropapillary, acinar, glandular pattern etc. This helps identify genetic alterations that could be targeted with certain drugs or therapies, to create a personalized treatment plan based on different cancer types.
5) How do you see precision oncology reshaping the landscape of cancer diagnosis and treatment?
Precision oncology is transforming the landscape of cancer diagnosis and treatment by offering more personalized and targeted approaches to patient care. Instead of one size fits all kind of approach, precision oncology takes into account unique characteristics of a patient, for tailored treatment strategies specific to each patient genome. This not only improves treatment outcomes but also reduces the likelihood of adverse side effects. Additionally, precision oncology enables early detection of cancer predisposition syndromes and allows for proactive interventions to prevent cancer development or recurrence.
