Cancer is one of the greatest medical challenges for whole world and nearly 9.7 million cancer-related deaths happened in 2022 as per WHO. In Bharat from last two decades, diagnosis of cancer patients in Bharat is around 100 out of every 1 lakh people, which is a matter of concern for individuals, families and healthcare systems. In Bharat the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Tata Memorial Centre, have emerged as key players in this fight. At an event marking the 75th anniversary of Tata Memorial Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described cancer as a profound trial, stating: “Cancer is no less than an ‘agni pariksha’ for anyone.”
Under prime Minister vision and with the combined efforts on evidence-based treatment, medical education and affordable research these institutions are changing the scenario of innovation, also ensuring that advanced therapies remain accessible to patients. From building a robust network of hospitals to indigenously developed nuclear medicines, pioneering new treatment methods their contributions are constantly transforming Bharat’s cancer care landscape.
Tata Memorial Centre: A Network of Cancer Care
The Tata Memorial Centre under the Department of Atomic Energy, serves as the centre of Bharat’s cancer care ecosystem. At present 11 hospitals has been established, out of which 8 are fully functional across different cities such as Mumbai, Varanasi, Vizag, Sangrur, Mullanpur, Guwahati and Bhubaneswar, three are under construction. These hospitals are not only treatment facilities but also educational hubs that set national standards in oncology.
Tata Memorial Centre believes in three guiding pillars:
Evidence-based practice: Ensuring that treatment decisions are supported by the best scientific evidence.
Commitment to education: Training doctors, nurses, technicians and the general public regarding cancer awareness and management.
Innovative research: Solution oriented research that meets Bharat’s specific needs while keeping low budget.
This holistic approach ensures that Tata Memorial does not operate alone but influences how cancer care is practiced across Bharat and beyond.
Developing Indigenous Nuclear Medicine Ligands
Over the past few years DAE most has made significant contributions in development of indigenous nuclear medicine ligands and targeted therapy to replace costly imports. These indigenous developments are essential for both the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.
- PSMA-617 was developed as an alternative for prostate cancer therapy. Its in-house version, 177Lu-PSMA617, is now supplied regularly by BRIT to hospitals across Bharat. This has drastically reduced dependence on expensive imports.
- PSMA-11, another major development used in the production of 68Ga-PSMA11, an advanced diagnostics compound for diagnosis of prostate cancer.
- DOTA-TATE enables the production of 68Ga-DOTA-TATE, a vital imaging agent for detecting neuroendocrine tumours (NETs).
- New bifunctional bisphosphonate ligands DOTA-SCN-BP and NOTA-SCN-BP have been prepared and are under clinical trials for their potential in diagnosing and treating skeletal metastasis, a painful condition where cancer spreads to the bones.
- DAE has also perfected the synthesis of sestaMIBI, used as 99mTc-MIBI for heart imaging, showing its broader contribution to medical science.
By producing these ligands locally, DAE makes it possible for hospitals throughout Bharat to obtain life-saving diagnostic and therapeutic equipment at a fraction of their international prices.
Targeted Drug Development: Reducing Side Effects
Traditional chemotherapy is effective in the treatment but typically kills healthy cells and triggers severe side effects. DAE has focused on the establishment of targeted treatment more specifically. An important endeavour is in the case of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat.
Another research is in treating neuroblastoma also known as paediatric cancer that mainly affects children. Scientists have developed MIBG-conjugated doxorubicin, a targeted drug delivery system that ensures the chemotherapy drug directly attacks cancer cells while saving the heart from toxic side effects. This harmony of efficacy and safety supports the promise of precision medicine.
Ensuring Supplies for Hospitals Nationwide
Board of Radiation & Isotope Technology (BRIT) is an industrial unit of Dept. of Atomic Energy responsible for production and supply of the radioactive products to the cancer hospitals.
- BRIT fabricates Cobalt-60 for teletherapy machines with 10–12 units produced every year and supplied to hospitals across Bharat. These sources are used to treat malignant tumours.
- It supplies Iodine-125 and Ruthenium-106 brachytherapy sources, which are used in treating localized cancers of the eye, cervix and prostate.
BRIT’s domestic supply ensures that hospitals would not have to rely on costly and irregular international imports.This steady supply ensures patients are not left waiting for critical therapy.
VECC: A Hub for Radioisotope Production
The Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) is one of the R&D unit of DAE at Chakgaria that plays an important role in producing radiopharmaceuticals which are crucial for cancer diagnostics. It’s a 30 MeV Medical Cyclotron Facility supplies radioisotopes and nuclear medicine centres across the country.
Some of the major radioisotopes now commercially produced include:
- 18F Sodium Fluoride used in bone scanning.
- Gallium-68 PSMA used for diagnosing prostate cancer.
- By providing continuous supply of radiopharmaceuticals, VECC has not only enhanced diagnostic strength but also lowers the economic load on patients by providing these products at reasonable prices.
Research on Resistant Cancers
DAE extensive research is focused on the development of indigenous nuclear medicine ligands. These include for the treatment of complex and therapeutically resistant cancers like Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) and Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC). Research and development are ongoing to develop precision therapeutics on the preclinical stage. They are targeted at specific genetic mutations or vulnerabilities in cancer cells, which result in improved outcomes with less toxicity.
TMC and DAE have introduced a series of advancements and achievements that has redefined cancer treatment in Bharat:
- Hadron Beam Therapy at ACTREC: This is a new generation radiation therapy that enables physicians to treat deep-seated tumours accurately by limiting damage to healthy tissues.
- Bharat’s First CAR T-Cell Therapy: Development in immunotherapy, to treat the patients with their own genetically modified cells, offering a ray of hope for incurable cases.
- PREVALL: A liquid form of oral Mercaptopurine, formulated for the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). This is especially useful in children who receive oral medication instead of injections.
AKTOCYTE Nutraceutical: Formulated by DAE it is a significant step in cancer patient support care.
RANS-Arterial Radioembolisation: This treatment employs indigenously made Y-90 microspheres (BHABHASPHERES) for directed therapy of liver cancers. - Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine Unit: This unit allows for extensive research as well as treating thousands of patients.
- Chlorophyllin-Based Nutraceutical Tablets: Created in collaboration between BARC and Tata Memorial Centre, these tablets reduce long-term side effect of radiotherapy in case of pelvic cancer patients.
Every one of these developments not only enhances outcomes for patients but also showcases Bharat’s capacity to innovate in the areas of advance medicine.
The joint effort of the Department of Atomic Energy and Tata Memorial Centre is transforming cancer treatment in Bharat. Through indigenous development, they have reduced the costs and made it available for treatments that previously remained inaccessible to patients. By making medicine and nuclear ligands-based products, they are also ensuring that Bharat does not rely on foreign sources for vital drugs and technologies.
Tata Memorial Centre improving the network of hospitals to ensures that excellence is disseminated throughout the nation rather than being focused in selected metropolitan hubs. Dept. of Atomic Energy and Tata Memorial Centre together are building a future where world-class cancer care is accessible and affordable in Bharat.
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