Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a cancerous disease that affects the throat area. As the name suggests, this abnormal cell growth spreads rapidly and aggressively in the nasopharynx or the area around the back of the nose and the upper part of the throat. This disease can lead to vision impairment, sore throat, and, fatally, death.
Globally, the incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer is relatively low compared to other types of cancer. However, in several parts of the world, including Indonesia, this aggressive tumor has a notable prevalence. According to the 2019 Ministry of Health data, the prevalence of nasopharyngeal cancer in Indonesia is 6.2 per 100,000 population, with approximately 13,000 new cases added each year. It's estimated that this figure is only a small part of those successfully documented.
Both children and adults can be affected by nasopharyngeal cancer. The initial symptoms of this disease often go undetected and disguise themselves as other mild illnesses. According to Dewi Kartika Paramita, Ph.D., a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), the symptoms usually include persistent dizziness and a runny nose.
Advanced-stage nasopharyngeal cancer must be treated with a combination of therapies: radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These two therapies are known to be costly. Unfortunately, early detection of nasopharyngeal symptoms has not been optimally developed. However, early-stage nasopharyngeal cancer can be managed with radiotherapy alone.
Most patients seek healthcare services in the advanced stages of the disease. When this occurs, the success rate of treating the disease is low. Dealing with advanced-stage nasopharyngeal cancer requires a combination of therapies: radiotherapy and chemotherapy, both of which are known to be expensive.
This has driven Dewi Kartika to develop an early detection device for nasopharyngeal cancer called NPC Strip A. Dewi Kartika and her research team developed the device named NPC Strip A.
The working mechanism of the NPC Strip A testing kit is quite simple: it uses a patient's blood sample. A drop of blood is taken from the fingertip and placed on the NPC Strip A, displaying the results in less than 10 minutes.
The Journey of Developing NPC Strip
Ideas and research related to early detection of nasopharyngeal cancer have long been developed in the environment of the Faculty of Medicine, UGM. Initially, the early detection tool was developed by Jajah Fachiroh, Ph.D., who had an interest in nasopharyngeal carcinoma research. The device interpreted blood sample results within four to five hours. The cost for a single test was around Rp 250,000.
In the mid-2010s, Dewi Kartika introduced the IgG NPC Strip, capable of detecting IgG antibodies against EA protein in nasopharyngeal cancer patients. Using the same blood sample basis, Dewi Kartika's developed tool had faster, accurate, and cheaper work times. One IgG NPC Strip kit was priced at a maximum of Rp 50,000 and targeted specialist ENT doctors.
Several years later, Dewi Kartika's research on the NPC Strip continued after receiving Productive Innovative Research (RISPRO) funding from the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP) in 2018. She developed the NPC Strip that could detect IgA antibodies.
"We named it A because it detects IgA antibodies," said Dewi Kartika, a doctor in immunovirology and cancer graduate from Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands, to the Financial Media team.
IgA antibodies are commonly found in the body, especially in mucous membranes and other bodily secretion fluids like saliva, tears, sputum, and more.
It's not an exaggeration to say that NPC Strip A could become a leading tool for nasopharyngeal cancer tests worldwide. This is because specific tools for detecting nasopharyngeal cancer are still relatively scarce. Dewi Kartika mentioned that in Europe, there's no specific tool for detecting nasopharyngeal cancer due to its low urgency.
"I found something similar in Europe that uses biomarkers. It means it comes from the same virus," said Dewi Kartika, adding that the test results took a long time, unlike NPC Strip.
Saving More Lives
NPC Strip A could save many lives. Early detection is the key to managing and curing nasopharyngeal cancer. This tool can be applied in basic healthcare facilities closest to the community, both in urban and rural areas.
The myriad benefits of this LPDP-funded research, amounting to approximately 1.5 billion rupiahs, will eventually reduce the treatment costs for cancer patients.
"If detected in earlier stages, this cancer is sensitive to radiotherapy, and the recovery rate can reach more than 80%," explained Dewi.
Of course, the cost of radiotherapy in early stages is much lower than when patients reach severe stages due to late detection. The presence of NPC Strip A can complement medical equipment technology in Indonesia, adhering to principles of practicality, ease, and affordability.
