BERTAM, 2 September 2025 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has marked a significant milestone in medical innovation as Dr. Jasmin Jalil, representing the Advanced Brachytherapy Team from the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT) at USM, was awarded the Best Oral Presentation Award at the 5th International Congress of the Asian Oncology Society (AOS) and the 51st Annual Meeting of the Korean Cancer Association.

The winning presentation featured the practice by IPPT in pioneering HyBIRT protocol – Hybrid Brachytherapy followed by Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) – a minimally invasive treatment for oral tongue cancer.

Dr. Jasmin presented findings from their study titled "PET-confirmed complete response after HyBIRT in 23 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients," which outshone other global entries, and was hailed as the top oral presentation at the congress held in Seoul, South Korea from 3–4 July 2025.

This recognition marks a major breakthrough for Malaysia in the field of oncology, showcasing the collaborative efforts of a multidisciplinary team from IPPT-USM, which includes:

• Dr. Jasmin Jalil (Lead, Advanced Brachytherapy Unit);
• Associate Professor Gokula Kumar Appalanaido (Radiation Oncologist);
• Associate Professor Dr. Muhamad Yusri Musa (ENT Surgeon);
• Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Zahri (Medical Physicist);
• Dr. Ahmad Fakrurrozi Mohamad (Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon).

Key Findings from the IPPT-USM Award-Winning Research:

• 100% Metabolic Complete Response at primary tumour sites in 30 patients.
• 7% Survival Rate with organ/function preservation.
• Reduced Severe Toxicity (only 6.7% Grade 3 side effects).
• PET Scans Confirmed as reliable post-treatment assessment tool.

"This award is a testament to the Advanced Brachytherapy Team collective effort at IPPT-USM," said Dr. Jasmin.

He added: "As one of the core developers of HyBIRT, I’m immensely proud that our Malaysian innovation – combining brachytherapy with precision radiotherapy – has gained global recognition, and this achievement elevates not just our university, but Malaysia’s standing in oncology research."

The award was conferred by AOS President, Professor Daiming Fan and Congress Chair, Professor Sun Young Rha, who praised the HyBIRT protocol as a viable alternative to invasive surgery, with the added advantage of preserving patients’ speech and swallowing functions.

The research, approved by the USM Human Ethics Committee, has been ongoing since 2019.

With oral tongue cancer affecting thousands across Asia annually, HyBIRT now positions Malaysia as a regional pioneer in organ-preserving cancer therapy.

Text: IPPT, USM