We believe that prevention is more effective than treatment

There are many types of hereditary health disorders and associated conditions which can be passed onto the next generation via irregular genetic code without the recipient’s knowledge.

• Many children are born with congenital health disorders that cannot possibly be prevented at the family planning stage. This results in families having to find ways to finance the treatments necessary to keep their child alive for as long as possible.
• There are many parents who discover—only after they have children—that they may have passed on a gene to their child that can cause cancer before age 40. 
• The HLA-B 1502 gene is common among those of Chinese, Southeast Asian, and Indian backgrounds. Those in possession of this gene are at risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction if they take antiseizure drugs, medicine used to treat mental illness, or medication used to treat gout.
• Different people react differently to medication despite taking the same type and dose. Even targeted therapies used to treat cancer are usually only useful for people suffering from gene mutations that match the medication’s mechanisms.

Advances in genetics and genomics have a greater influence over the selection of health treatments than ever before.

The Precision Medicine Centers at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital and Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital now provide consultations and use modern screening techniques in accordance with the principles of precision medicine. These services involve genetic analysis through next generation sequencing (NGS), designed to identify and rate genes according to irregularities. It is a highly accurate process that offers results in only 1–2 months. These results are then interpreted for patients by specialists in the fields of genetics and genomics.

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Clinical genetics service

The clinical genetics service at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital’s Precision Medicine Center has been established to provide medical services and bring technological advances in the field of genetics to the forefront when diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease. All of this is undertaken according to international standards of care and ethics. The following groups are suited to our clinical genetics service:

1. Patients suffering from genetic disorders or chromosome abnormalities, be that at the embryonic or fetal stage of life through to, infant, adult, and geriatric stages. Examples of disorders suitable for screening include: Down syndrome, chromosome abnormalities that result in mental and developmental issues, fetal genetic abnormalities, Thalassemia, hemolytic enzyme deficiency, Marfan syndrome and associated disorders, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, hereditary neuropathy, polycystic kidney disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, sudden death syndrome, and hereditary arrhythmia.  
2. Patients suffering from any of the following cancers: breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon and gastrointestinal cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, kidney and genitourinary cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, early onset cancer (before the age of 50), or late onset cancer (over 50) and having one or more family members with the disease, or patients with cancers affecting two or more organs in their lifetime.
3. Patients suffering from idiopathic conditions who suspect that their illness could be a result of genetic or chromosomal abnormalities, such as autism; children with developmental issues; and patients with early onset hyperlipidemia, idiopathic chronic kidney failure, idiopathic cardiac arrest, deafness, early onset visual deterioration, morbid obesity, or being taller or shorter than average.
4. Patients in good health who suspect that they may possess a faulty gene or may be at risk of developing a genetic disorder in the future, for instance those with a family history of cancer or heart disease, or parents whose first child was born with a physical or mental disability and suspect that one or both parents may be in possession of faulty genes.
5. Anyone who would like to make use of the technologies available through our clinical genetic service to screen for potential irregularities, for example, those planning to start a family who belong to an ethnic group that may require screening for certain prevalent disorders; patients with metabolic disorders affecting several bodily systems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and morbid obesity; or people suffering with chronic health disorders who take a range of drugs to manage their condition and for whom pharmacogenetic technology could help to assess their drug allergy risk or provide information as to the likelihood of the effectiveness of a certain medication.

Service flow of the Genetics and Genomics Clinic

The clinical genetics service is a result of cooperation between specialists from several fields of medicine led by experts in genetics and genomics. Patients and other service users are offered care across a range of areas, including diagnosis of internal and external symptoms, special laboratory and X-ray screening techniques, and highly specific genetic sequencing screening used to diagnose disorders at the DNA level. Another vital aspect of the service is genetic counseling, which involves doctors consulting patients regarding key information surrounding their condition and offering detailed advice on how it could be treated. Genetic counseling is a comprehensive service that extends to the screening and care of all relevant members of the same family.

Once an appointment has been made, a nurse or staff member will contact the patient to inquire into their medical history, to develop a clear understanding of the past three generations of the patient’s family. This information can play an important role in the diagnostic process. Patients may also be asked to bring information from past hospital visits to their appointment, such as referral forms, copies of medical records, blood test results, and X-ray scans. On the day of their appointment, as many of the patient’s relevant family members as possible are advised to accompany them. Once they arrive, patients will be asked by a staff member to provide a summary of their medical history, usually taking around 15 minutes to prepare the documentation. Patients will then consult with a doctor for at least 30 minutes (for less complicated issues), or 45-60 minutes for more complex concerns. Should there be a need to carry out any special gene and chromosome screening, the doctor will provide a clear, detailed explanation of the process, including interpreting the results and explaining how they will be used for the future benefit of the patient. In cases requiring extra screening from doctors in other departments, the nursing staff will do everything they can to reduce the inconvenience caused to patients and their families.

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Genetics service technologies at the Precision Medicine Center

1. Whole exome and whole genome genetic sequencing techniques
2. Highly specific genetic disorder screening using the latest technologies, such as local genetic decoding, next generation genetic sequencing, chromosome analysis (karyotyping), microarray chromosome lesion screening, and other associated disease-specific techniques
3. Analysis and interpretation of Thalassemia tests
4. Diagnosis of genetic disorders at the embryonic and fetal stages, undertaken in cooperation with doctors from the Woman’s Health Center

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About the medical team providing clinical genetics services

Cancer A genetically transferable disease which shouldn't be overlook

Assoc. Prof. Objoon Trachoo, M.D is in charge of the clinical genetics service at the Precision Medicine Center. He graduated with a first-class honors degree in medicine from the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, before going onto receive a Diploma from the Thai Board of Internal Medicine. He added to his credentials by earning a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom. He followed that achievement with the receipt of a European Diploma in Medical Genetics and Genomics certified by the European Union of Medical Specialists, Section of Medical Genetics, which qualifies him to provide diagnosis and treatment in the field of genetics. Additionally, Dr. Objoon has been accepted into the United Kingdom’s Fellowship Institute of Biomedical Science—the highest honor bestowed by the scientists who make up the board—in recognition of his achievements in the field of biomedical laboratory analysis. Dr. Objoon has undertaken several internationally recognized research projects, focusing on neurological development disorders, hereditary heart diseases, detection of rare genetic conditions, and identification of genetic abnormalities in embryonic cells.

The Precision Medicine Center at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital is pleased to receive all patients and service users who wish to undergo genetic screening. This includes those who may have been transferred from governmental and corporate facilities throughout Thailand and the Asian Pacific region at the individual’s request or upon the recommendation of the medical team in charge of their care. For more information, please contact the Life Center, 3rd floor, building 2, Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, by calling 02-02202750, or via email at svhlife@samitivej.co.th

Genetic cancer risk assessment

• Colon cancer
• Breast cancer