As a survivor of stage 3 colon cancer at a young age, Susanti is determined to solve the mystery as to why this type of cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent among young adults.
By
Ester Lince Napitupulu
·5 minutes read
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Susanti
Working as a cancer researcher who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer has changed the scientific focus of Susanti, 39. As a survivor of stage 3 colon cancer at a young age, she is determined to solve the mystery as to why this type of cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent among young adults.
Not just a dedicated scientist, Susanti has also set up a molecular diagnostics start-up, PathGen Diagnostik Teknologi, to support early detection and prevention of colon cancer in Indonesia.
Susanti’s expertise, along with the Nottingham-Indonesia Collaboration for Clinical Research and Training (NICCRAT), a research team formed in 2019 that benefits from molecular diagnostics, is also playing a major role during the Covid-19 pandemic. She and the NICCRAT team, as well as staff from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), are providing training for laboratory technicians and researchers conducting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and genome sequencing.
Since 2005, Susanti has been a Faculty of Pharmacy lecturer at Muhammadiyah University in Purwokerto, Central Java. She pursued a biomedical master program at Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra and researched angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, which promotes the growth of cancer cells. She decided she wanted to pursue her research further through a doctorate scholarship at ANU, and was selected among the top 20 candidates for the Australian Prime Minister Endeavour Postgraduate Award.
Illness
Susanti decided to return to Indonesia before returning to Australia, when she became ill in 2014 and was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.
“As a scientist researching cancer and then getting cancer, my first question was the same as that of most cancer patients: why me? Moreover, according to scientific journals, the disease primarily emerges within the 60 to 70 age range,” Susanti said on Sunday (6/6/2021) when contacted in Nottingham, the United Kingdom.
Susanti decided to be treated in Yogyakarta. She didn’t get a genetic test, whereas global researches indicate that around 20 percent of young-onset cancers are caused by genetic anomalies. Indonesia’s health services had not yet reached that level of testing.
As a scientist researching cancer and then getting cancer, my first question was the same as that of most cancer patients: why me?
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Susanti (second from right) with her colleagues in research to uncover the mystery of colon cancer patients at a young age. Susanti built a collaboration between Nottingham University and Indonesia to conduct joint research.
At the time, Susanti was doubtful about whether or not she would be able to continue with her studies. Thanks to the support of her husband, Ciptoaji, she decided to research colon cancer in order to get answers to her questions and to quell her curiosity as a survivor.
She then canceled her Australian scholarship after receiving a scholarship from the Islamic Development Bank to pursue her studies at Nottingham University.
Globally, colon cancer affects about 8 percent of young adults, but the prevalence is growing. The rate is higher in Indonesia at between 35 percent and 40 percent.
Genetic anomalies are known to be the cause of some 20 percent of cases of colon cancer among young patients. The remaining 80 percent of cases are due to unclear causes, which spurred Susanti’s drive to unravel the mystery.
Susanti took molecular diagnostic tests in the UK. The test results showed that Susanti’s cancer was unconnected to heredity or genetic anomalies.
She then undertook her own research into genetic causes. The presence of a certain genetic anomaly increases the risk of developing colon cancer will be higher. Her research also seeks to identify other genetic anomalies. It is also looking into aspects of patients’ immune system that help cancer cells develop more quickly.
"If no other genetic anomalies are found later and there are no distinguishing immune cells, other risk factors will be examined, such as diet, cigarette smoking and radiation exposure,” she said.
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Susanti (right) who is currently undergoing a postdoctoral degree at the University of Nottingham, England, attended the World Class Professor held by the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, in 2019 in Jakarta.
Bridging science and business
Her research into colon cancer has given her much insight. Early detection was an important step. Molecular diagnostics can offer colon cancer patients the best treatment to match their condition. If the cause is found to be hereditary, other family members can be tested immediately for early detection and prevention.
Susanti and the NICCRAT team have produced an affordable molecular diagnostic test kit to detect colon cancer, which uses a tumor tissue sample from patients. She envisions making the test kit available to regional general hospitals by using the PCR test equipment for Covid-19.
Susanti thus founded the PathGen Diagnostik Teknologi start-up.
“I want to pursue my aims, make the most of the rest of my life. I’m working with young talents in Indonesia, and there are volunteers [also],” she said.
Unexpectedly, the LIPI start-up incubator PathGen was selected among the three start-ups representing Indonesia in the social innovation start-up category at the upcoming Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), to be held on 22 July in California, the United States.
Susanti
Place & date of birth: Jambi, 7 May 1982
Occupation:
- Founder and CEO, PathGen Diagnostik Teknologi (2020-present)
- Researcher, Nottingham-Indonesia Collaboration for Clinical Research and Training (2019-present)
- PhD in Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom (2015-2020)
- Master in Biomedical Research, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra (2009-2011)
- Bachelor in Pharmacy, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta (2000-2005)
Awards:
- Postdoctoral Research Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Research Community, 2021 Tri-Campus Awards for Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Research, University of Nottingham
- Finalist, 2020 L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Awards
- Global finalist in health category (PathGen), People’s Choice Awards, Extreme Tech Challenge 2021, United States
