Medical experts discuss precision oncology advancements in Vietnam

Medical experts from Vietnam and India recently convened at the ‘Precision Oncology 2026’ international scientific workshop in Hanoi to discuss advancements in nuclear medicine and targeted radiotherapy. The seminar, organized by Phuong Dong General Hospital, focused on precision oncology—a strategy where treatment is tailored to the specific biological characteristics of a tumor and the individual patient rather than using a universal protocol.

A key topic of discussion was Theranostics, a field of nuclear medicine that integrates diagnosis and therapy. This approach uses radioactive agents to identify the presence and distribution of specific molecular targets, subsequently delivering therapeutic agents directly to the cancer cells expressing those targets.

In Vietnam, cancer remains a significant health challenge, with approximately 180,000 new cases and over 120,000 deaths recorded annually. The most common types of cancer in the country include breast, lung, colorectal, liver, and stomach cancers. Breast cancer is currently the most frequently diagnosed, with over 25,000 new cases, driven by a combination of non-modifiable factors like genetics and age, and modifiable lifestyle factors such as obesity and physical inactivity.