“Cancer” is the area where multidisciplinary treatments are being made most vigorously. Various researches and the introduction of groundbreaking technologies have raised expectations about the “complete recovery” of cancer. However, the methods to diagnose and treat cancer have also become so much diversified and guidelines, accordingly complicated. It is never easy for doctors to grasp pouring information and provide “personalized healthcare” on their own. All the more so, under the Korean reality, which demands physicians to treat as many patients as possible and improve research performances. All this explains why the “multidisciplinary system” has taken roots in the cancer area since long ago. However, some point out that the multidisciplinary system is redundant. As there are no standardized systems, it requires a great deal of care, from preparing for conferences to arranging results in order. To resolve these problems, Roche Diagnostics Korea released Navify Tumor Board (NTB) late last year. Korea Biomedical Review met with Mike Yun, head of Clinical Decision Support, to talks about NTB.

Question: What is NTB?
Answer: It is the first software program among the Roche Diagnostics’ cloud-based data integration platform, “NAVIFY” portfolios. Using this, you can integrate all data, including those concerning patients in the course of receiving multidisciplinary treatments and see the examples and results of similar patients at a glance. In talking about the multidisciplinary system currently, they have to risk the hassle of collecting different software items, such as PowerPoint, slide-only program, and CT-MRI programs, one by one.

NTB provides at-a-glance-view of all these in standardized ways. Cloud-based NTB allows users to use it through laptops and smartphones by entering their IDs and passwords in a web browser without installation.

Q: You said NTB helps customized cancer treatment.
A: It helps medical professionals diagnose and treat diseases through three apps. At first, the two apps, “Navify Clinical Trial Match app” and “Navify Publication Search app” help to find theses and clinical trials of the highest relevance to registered patients' data through natural language analysis. In the case of clinical trials, it finds data based on a database managed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. In the case of publications, it searches material from publicly certified DB, such as Pub Med and ASCO. Besides, the “Navify Guideline app” provides NCCN guidelines, the most sought-after reference among oncologists.

Q: Explain how to use it in detail, please.
A: NTB’s operation starts with the input of patient data. By connecting it to electronic medical records (EMR), users can bring patient data automatically. Then a Tumorboard is created. If users input basic information, including patients’ clinical stage and medical history, they can confirm diagnosis and test contents at a glance. If the users input keywords through the Navify Clinical Trial Match app, they can see clinical trials available in Korea (standards, implementing agencies and contact information). Navify Publication Search app helps to find publications needed for discussion automatically. With the tool of NTB, users can integrate various information and discuss treatment strategies from multiple aspects.

Q: Can Korean medical institutions use NTB anytime they want?
A: That’s right. If the NTB and EMR are not integrated, however, they should take the trouble of inputting data on manual. Currently, some general hospitals here are having tests underway. Some said they found the web-based tool somewhat awkward, but a far larger number of testers replied it was convenient by processing all things in one app.

Q: Medical institutions will likely make a cost-benefit analysis.
A: We are discussing the cost issue with the headquarter office. This year, we are focusing on confirming consumers’ feedbacks and user convenience. We are also considering introducing a subscription system based on the period of use and the number of users. NTB can create meaningful data according to global standards. It also enhances administrative efficiency. At Hospital del Mar in Spain, for example, oncologists could save their time to prepare data by 53 percent when they used the Navify Tumor Board. Medical professionals can use the saved time for treating patients.

Q: What are hurdles you’ll have to surmount to make NTB take roots in Korea?
A: We need to reinvigorate process-centered discussion a little more. Previously, discussions were made by centering on results. We need to create a culture in which people make significant decisions by making the most of apps and information. However, I am sure that NTB will expand its presence because a cloud-based tool is a prerequisite for handling a large volume of medical information.