Professor Dr Arthur Sun Myint

Prof. Sun Myint graduated from IM (2) Yangon, Burma in 1972. He was appointed as a Clinical scientist for MRC Neutron trial project in 1983 and chaired the colorectal sub-group for neutron trials until 1995. He was the chair of TSG in Gastrointestinal malignancies at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology (1998-2012) where he worked as a consultant for over 30 years. His main research interest is in the treatment of rectal cancers. He introduced contact radiotherapy (Papillon) into the UK and started treating patients at Clatterbridge from 1993. So far, he has treated over 1600 patients using Papillon technique which is the world largest cohort of patients. He helped design a new contact radiotherapy machine together with his mentor Prof Jean Pierre Gerard in collaboration with Ariane Company. He is the director of Papillon course at Clatterbridge (2010-present). He was appointed specialist adviser for NICE for rectal brachytherapy and helped write the guide lines published in Dec 2006 and Sept 2015. He was a member of NCRI rectal and anal sub group committees (1995-2012) and now serves as an adviser to the NCRI rectal sub group. He has published over 60 peer reviewed publications and an author of 7 text book chapters. He was the guest editor for special issues of Clinical Oncology (Vol.19: No 9; Nov, 2007) and Colorectal Disease (Vol 12: Supp 2:2010) on radiotherapy for early rectal cancer and advanced rectal cancer. He served as the oncology representative on the Council of Association of Coloproctology from 2006-2009. He was elected on the faculty (2006-2009) then served on the Council of the Royal College of Radiologists (2009-2012). In May 2011, he was appointed by GEC-ESTRO committee to chair the brachytherapy group for rectal and anal cancers. He served as the President of International Contact Radiotherapy Society (ICONE) from May 2013-2018. He is the Lead clinician of Papillon Unit at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre which opened in June 2013. He was appointed as an expert advisor on radiotherapy with IAEA imPACT mission to Myanmar in November 2015 and December 2016. In recognition of his contributions to medicine and oncology he was awarded an Honorary Professor by the University of Liverpool in Dec, 2012. Professor Sun Myint was appointed by H.E. Minister of Health &Sports Dr Myint Htwe as his special adviser for oncology in Myanmar from July 2017.

The standard of care for rectal cancer is surgery. However, if the patient is not suitable for surgery or refusing surgery as they are stoma phobic, alternative non-surgical treatment with radiotherapy can be offered. In this situation, patients are usually offered external beam radiotherapy with (EBCRT) or without chemotherapy (EBRT). The chance of clinical complete response following EBCRT is about 20-30% depending on the stage of the tumour. Contact X-ray brachytherapy boost following EBCRT can improve the chance of clinical complete response to 60-80% depending on the stage of the tumour. I introduced contact X-ray brachytherapy (Papillon) into the UK and set up our first Papillon facility at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in 1993. We have now treated over 1600 patients which is the world largest cohort of patients treated by contact X-ray brachytherapy. There are 4 Papillon centres in the UK. Nice has now approved Papillon for patients not suitable for surgery (IPG 532). There is a randomised trial called OPERA for patients who are suitable for surgery but wish to to avoid it. Outside the trial, patients suitable for Papillon are early (cT1) small (< 3 cm) rectal cancers. Larger tumour (>5 cm) or more advanced rectal cancers (cT2 or cT3 ) need EBCRT or EBRT to down size or downstage the tumour initially before Papillon is consider for boost . This concept is been evaluated in the OPERA trial. Surgery can be offer for any residual cancer after Papillon boost or local regrowth that develop after achieving clinical complete response following CXB boost. It is important to understand that Papillon can not cure all rectal cancer and surgery should be consider in case of residual cancer after Papillon boost. Please watch the following videos at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Website https://www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk/patients/treatment-and-support/papillon For more information contact my secretary or email me at:- sun.myint@nhs.net