Doctors in Abu Dhabi worked for five hours to place a chemotherapy pump inside a cancer patient in his sixties, an operation that could signal a new era for treatment of the disease in the UAE.
The hepatic artery infusion pump (HAIP) delivers chemotherapy drugs directly into tumours. The operation was carried out for the first time in the country on September 7.
It was done by the Burjeel Cancer Institute and aims to ensure maximum drug concentration at the tumour site, while significantly reducing side effects such as nausea, fatigue and weakened immunity. The patient, who had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer that had spread to his liver, is now recovering at home.
Chemotherapy drugs are traditionally administered using an IV drip, a process that can take hours. But the pump delivers treatment directly to the tumour, which means it is a much shorter course of therapy, as well as using fewer drugs.
“The success of this operation represents a major breakthrough in the treatment of liver tumours resulting from metastatic colorectal cancer,” said Dr Mohammad Adileh, head of oncological surgery at Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi. "It places the UAE among advanced nations offering such highly complex treatment. This improves patients’ chances of receiving curative surgical treatment and achieving longer survival rates.”
Targeted tumour treatment
Liver tumours derive most of their blood flow from the hepatic artery. A small medical device was surgically implanted under the skin of the patient to continuously deliver highly concentrated chemotherapy drugs directly into the organ’s blood supply.
While the operation has previously been carried out at cancer centres elsewhere in the world, this was the UAE’s first case. Prof Humaid Al Shamsi, chief executive of BCI, said the therapy was a turning point in treatment for liver cancer.
“We are proud to offer this advanced option for the first time in the UAE and the Gulf, supported by world-class medical expertise,” he said. “Our hope is that many patients across the region will benefit, achieving improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life. This achievement also ensures that patients receive state-of-the-art cancer care close to home, reducing the need to travel abroad for such advanced treatments.
"It contributes to the UAE’s position as a regional leader in cancer care and medical tourism.”
Colorectal cancer is the most common form of cancer in men. It can be usually detected from a stool sample and colonoscopy. However, breast cancer is the most common form of the disease in the UAE, with 1,456 cases diagnosed in 2023, up 27 per cent from 1,139 in 2021. That is almost three times the number of colorectal cancer cases recorded in 2023, which was 588.
To improve early detection of breast cancer, the BCI offers complimentary screenings and educational sessions across the UAE from its mobile mammogram truck. Doctors will teach women how to perform regular self-examinations and share important information about symptoms and risk factors.
It will call at shopping malls, business centres and schools, including Emirates National School MBZ Campus, Abu Dhabi Indian School, Zayed City Centre Mall, Marina Mall and Deerfields Mall.
Cases on rise but deaths set to fall
Cancer cases have almost doubled around the world since 1990, reaching 18.5 million in 2023. That tally does not include nonmelanoma skin cancers. While population growth, better diagnosis and improved recognition of early symptoms have contributed to the increase, the number of people dying from cancer has also risen by 74 per cent in that time, reaching 10.4 million in 2023.
The majority of those affected live in low and middle-income countries, a report published The Lancet found. Risk factors including smoking, unhealthy diet and high blood sugar have contributed to almost half of all cancer deaths worldwide.
Dr Rajitha Lokadasan, a consultant of medical oncology at NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, said that, while it can be challenging to record long-term data, people are being diagnosed with cancer at a younger age.
“The absolute number of cancer cases is increasing across the world,” she said. “Overall, there has been a decline of age standardised incidence and mortality rate in all high income countries, which includes the UAE.
“This can be attributed to better prevention, vaccinations, lifestyle modification, better treatment and health facilities in the UAE. The UAE has a primarily young population and more than 80 per cent are expatriates, so the data collection for this moving population has always been challenging.”
As treatments such as targeted therapies improve, the chances of surviving cancer increase. But early detection remains the best way to beat the disease, particularly in developing nations.
“People are presenting with cancer in its early stages, which is often curable,” Dr Lokadasan added. "Because of better awareness though things like mammograms, the number of people dying from cancer will definitely begin coming down.”
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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'Nightmare Alley'
Director:Guillermo del Toro
Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Rating: 3/5
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SQUADS
UAE
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice-captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan
Nepal
Paras Khadka (captain), Gyanendra Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Pradeep Airee, Binod Bhandari, Avinash Bohara, Sundeep Jora, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Rohit Paudel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Basant Regmi, Pawan Sarraf, Bhim Sharki, Aarif Sheikh
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sav%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Purvi%20Munot%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%20as%20of%20March%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
