The results of this study will provide a holistic view of the current situation of the immune oncology field in Armenia and will contribute to efforts in identifying patients who will benefit the most from expensive IO drugs while sparing others from unnecessary toxicities and financial burden.
Comprehensive data on the use of Immunotherapeutic (IO) agents is currently lacking in Armenia and worldwide, despite the growing trend towards their use in various oncologic diseases. This trend highlights the potential clinical benefit of these agents, but also creates a significant added financial burden. Unlike in the USA, Europe, and other developed countries, Armenia lacks regional or institutional guidelines for oncology, resulting in significant variations in treatment approaches among physicians.
Dr. Amalya Sargsyan, a research fellow and oncologist, aims to study Armenia's real-world experience with immunotherapeutic agents for oncologic diseases. She plans to conduct a retrospective study using data from the past 6 years, providing a nationwide perspective on the matter, with Dr. Samvel Bardakhchyan serving as her mentor for the project.
Dr. Sargsyan's research will assess the real-world efficacy of IO agents, investigate associated toxicities and immune-related adverse events, search for possible predictive biomarkers, and explore a potential efficacy-effectiveness gap. The study will also examine predictors of unwanted delays and shorter treatment durations when compared to guideline recommendations, as well as the prices of IO drugs in Armenia and their affordability. Comparative analyses will be performed by age, gender, initial performance status, and cancer subtype. Furthermore, the study will focus on response assessment techniques used by different centers in Armenia and separately analyze data on IO efficacy in patients with liver metastasis versus those without.
The results of this study will provide a comprehensive view of the current state of the immune oncology field in Armenia, helping to identify patients who will benefit the most from expensive IO drugs while sparing others from unnecessary toxicities and financial burden.
About IMMONC
We at the Immune Oncology Research Institute (IMMONC) aim to make the discoveries that prevent, treat and cure cancer and make them available for beneficiaries. If you would like to join our team, please contact us at [email protected] or at +374-41 310-048.