Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer (QSCBC)Asia’s Only Centre in OPTIMA Trial
- 3 days ago
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Updated: 2 days ago
Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer (QSCBC)
Asia’s Only Centre in OPTIMA Trial, Optimising Chemotherapy to Improve Patients’ Quality of Life
The Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer (QSCBC), a leading international institution for breast cancer care and clinical research was selected as the only medical centre in Asia to join the landmark breast cancer research project, the OPTIMA TRIAL. This research programme is a pioneering clinical study whose findings were presented at the prestigious 2026 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in early June.
The research has demonstrated remarkable success in utilising genomic testing to develop personalised treatment strategies for breast cancer patients. This advanced technology, importantly and significantly, enables patients with a low genomic score to safely avoid unnecessary chemotherapy.
The Challenge of Chemotherapy and a Turning Point for “Personalised Care”
Historically, following breast cancer surgery, patients have routinely been treated with a combination of chemotherapy and hormone therapy to reduce the risk of recurrences. This conventional approach, however, has resulted in many patients receiving chemotherapy unnecessarily and experiencing debilitating side effects, including alopecia, nausea, peripheral neuropathy, and chronic fatigue.
Organised by University College London (UCL) and the University of Warwick Clinical Trial Unit, the OPTIMA Trial is a collaborative global study involving leading hospitals and medical institutions across six countries: the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. The research focuses specifically on patients diagnosed with hormone-sensitive breast cancer.
In the OPTIMA Trial, tumour tissue samples collected during surgery undergo comprehensive biological, molecular and genomic profiling across 50 specific genes (PAM50). This advanced analysis enables clinicians to assess the risk of recurrences and predict the likely benefits of treatment, supporting more personalised treatment decisions for over 4,000 participants worldwide.
Five-year follow-up data showed that patients with a low genomic risk score did not have additional benefits from chemotherapy. These findings provide robust evidence that chemotherapy can be safely omitted in this patient group; these patients only require endocrine (hormone) therapy alone.
Clinical outcomes and non-recurrence rates of the non-chemotherapy patients were comparable to those who received chemotherapy. This enables patients to experience a far smoother treatment process, allowing them to recover quickly and with early resumption of their work and daily lives.
QSCBC’s Expertise and Unwavering Dedication to Thai Pateints
Dr Kris Chatamra, Founder of the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer, commented:
“The Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer (QSCBC) was chosen as Asia’s sole representative on this global stage, reflecting the centre’s exceptional capability and outstanding operational readiness, underpinned by a fully integrated structure. The centre encompasses clinical care, special pathology, molecular diagnostics, advanced research, and comprehensive 50-gene biological and genomic profiling (PAM50). All activities take place entirely in-house and without the need for external laboratory services. Driven by a multidisciplinary team, the centre meticulously analyses the unique clinical, biological, and molecular characteristics of each patient. This ensures that Thai patients receive highly accurate, precise and personalised treatment pathways that meet the highest international standards.”
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