Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program (CASCAP)

On May 5, 2022, the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine Alumni Association, KKU, Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, Health Center 7, Mental Health Center 7, Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital, Khon Kaen, and Nam Phong Hospital, jointly organized the “1st Khon Kaen University Medical Alumni Association Mobile Medical Unit” at the Nam Phong District Office Auditorium, Khon Kaen Province, with Dr. Phakhee Traipipat, Public Health Doctor of Khon Kaen Province, presiding over the opening ceremony. More than 150 people participated in the event. The Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, and the Khon Kaen University Medical Alumni Association have collaborated with various agencies at the district, provincial, sub-district, and sub-district levels to provide health services to the people of Nam Phong District, Khon Kaen Province. Activities include cholangiocarcinoma screening using ultrasound, liver fluke screening using urine by the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, lung X-rays to screen for respiratory diseases by the Health Center 7, mental health screening, donation of essential daily necessities and medicines, and other activities. Which is considered very useful for the people of Nam Phong and the public health work of Khon Kaen Province. By screening for bile duct cancer, today, people have registered to receive liver fluke screening from urine […]

On March 5, 2021, the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, led by Prof. Dr. Narong Khantikaew, Director of the Institute, along with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Watcharin Loylom, Committee Member and Secretary of the Institute, participated in the opening of the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening Unit, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province at Khon Kaen Hospital, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province. This activity was carried out under the project to solve the problem of liver fluke disease and cholangiocarcinoma in the prototype district, "Khon Kaen Model City", supported by the National Research Office (NRCT), in collaboration with the network of 4 main hospitals in Khon Kaen Province, namely Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen Hospital, Rajapruek Hospital, and Sirindhorn Hospital, Ban Haed District, Khon Kaen Province, to open a cholangiocarcinoma screening unit using an ultrasound machine to provide services to the people in Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province. The screening unit has been opened at Khon Kaen Hospital and other hospitals in sequence. On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Narong Khantikaew presented a book Cholangiocarcinoma in Thailand to Dr. Thitima Anukulananchai and Dr. Walairat Phakdeethai, doctors from Khon Kaen Hospital as a souvenir. Cholangiocarcinoma Screening Unit using ultrasound at Khon Kaen Hospital is open to the public who register through the Isan system.

On March 3, 2021, the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, organized a meeting of 30 researchers under the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute at Meeting Room 5314, Wechawichakarn Building, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. This meeting was to explain the details of the research project implementation under the Basic Research Fund of Khon Kaen University for the fiscal year 2021. In the fiscal year 2021, the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute received support for two research projects in the field of science, research and innovation (SRI) under the Basic Research Fund of Khon Kaen University from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA): the research project to develop and create innovations for integrated solutions to liver fluke disease and cholangiocarcinoma, led by Prof. Dr. Narong Khantikaew, and the research and development project of a phenomics platform for screening, treatment, monitoring and medical surveillance using liver fluke infection and cholangiocarcinoma as a prototype study, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nisana Namwat. On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Narong Khantikaew told researchers in the project that “Currently, the direction of research operations related to liver fluke and cholangiocarcinoma of the institute focuses on the development of research related to precision medicine in cholangiocarcinoma patients, which the institute has been operating for more than 7 years. In 2018, the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute was allocated a scientific instrument, namely a Triple quadrupole MS/MS mass spectrometer (Triple Quadrupole MS/MS).

Today (22 Feb 64), the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, led by Prof. Dr. Narong Khantikaew, Director of the Institute, was invited to give a lecture on “Reducing Liver Fluke Disease and Cholangiocarcinoma” on the occasion of the meeting under the project to drive the development of quality of life and improve the well-being of the people with the mechanism of the District Quality of Life Development Committee (PCHOD) / Sub-district Level (PCHOD) of Tha Khantho District, Kalasin Province at the Tha Khantho District Office, Kalasin Province, consisting of heads of government agencies, education departments, kamnans, village headmen, and village health volunteers (VHV) more than 150 people. Prof. Dr. Narong Khantikaew talked about the importance and dangers of liver fluke disease and cholangiocarcinoma. In the past, liver fluke screening was done by urine antigen testing in Tha Khantho District, totaling 1,995 cases, of which 8.22 percent were infected and all of them received medication and recovered. This shows that liver fluke is still a major problem. Therefore, everyone is invited to join in solving the problem, such as managing food produced from fish to be free from liver fluke. Proper waste management according to sanitary principles, where the research institute will fully support operations in all aspects, especially additional liver fluke screening to cover 4,000 cases and bile duct cancer screening using ultrasound for 500 cases. Dr. Phuttarak Disin, Director of Tha Khantho Hospital, said, “I am very pleased and would like to thank the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute for coming in to help drive the work in the area.

On December 24, 2020, the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narong Khanteekaew, Director of the Institute, presented the results of the operation of the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute to Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and his team at the Auditorium Meeting Room, Northeast Science Park Administration Building, Khon Kaen University. The visit to visit the Khon Kaen University research and innovation exhibition booth by Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister, was to supervise and monitor the operations in the central northeastern provinces and Inspection Area 12 (Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, and Kalasin provinces). In this regard, he listened to the presentation of Khon Kaen University's operations and its role in developing cities to elevate the grassroots economy of the Northeast. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chanchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University, and staff welcomed and presented the results of Khon Kaen University's work. The Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, is one of the main cogs of Khon Kaen University. which drives work according to the strategy of Khon Kaen University dedicated to society by working on solving problems of liver fluke disease and bile duct cancer through the Thai Challenge Research Project: Fluke Free Thailand under the support of the National Research Office (NRCT). Currently, there is a project to solve problems of liver fluke disease and bile duct cancer in model districts covering 10 districts in 4 provinces.

On December 23, 2020, the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narong Khantikaew, Director of the Institute, welcomed a study group from the Quality of Life Development Committee of Mueang District, Maha Sarakham Province, to study and receive knowledge transfer on solving the problem of liver fluke disease and bile duct cancer under the project of the prototype district to solve the problem of liver fluke disease and bile duct cancer "Mueang Maha Sarakham Model" under the Thai Challenge Research Project: Thailand without liver fluke, which is operated in collaboration with the National Research Office (NRCT). The study group from Mueang Maha Sarakham District, led by Mr. Phisit Saengthopho, Assistant Public Health Officer of Mueang District, Maha Sarakham Province, along with a working group from the Quality of Life Development Committee of the District, District Public Health Office, various sub-district hospitals, community leaders, teachers, personnel of Maha Sarakham Hospital, and related personnel, totaling more than 26 people, participated in the activity at Meeting Room 5311, Wetchawichakarn Building, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, and the Urine Antigen Liver Fluke Test Laboratory, Department of Parasitology. Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narong Khantikaew, Director of the Research Institute, said, “Liver fluke disease and bile duct cancer are serious threats that destroy the lives of people in the Northeast. More than 20,000 people die each year. The main cause is from eating undercooked white fish, which will ingest liver fluke and the parasite will destroy the bile ducts, causing bile duct cancer. To solve this problem sustainably, the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute has collaborated with the National Research Office.

On November 9, 2020, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narong Khantikaew, Director of the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, together with the Health Zone Committee for the People, Area 7 (Khkp.7), led by Mr. Sakcharoen Phawaputanon, Secretary of Khkp.7, provided knowledge on prevention and treatment of liver fluke disease and bile duct cancer to a group of 70 monks in the Sangha Administration Area 9 (Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Kalasin) at Wat Khun Phrom Damri, Tha Song Kon Subdistrict, Mueang District, Maha Sarakham Province. The project was chaired by Phra Khru Sarakitprayut, Deputy Abbot of Mueang District, Maha Sarakham Province. Phra Khru Sarakitprayut, Deputy Abbot of Mueang District, Maha Sarakham Province, said, “The problem of liver fluke disease and bile duct cancer is a problem that has taken the lives of people in the Northeast that we have heard about for a long time. Many relatives and laypeople in the Northeast have died from this disease. The public health sector has been campaigning to create understanding for the public all along. Doctors at the hospital are operating almost every day, but this disease still hasn’t gone away. Therefore, solving the problem should start by raising awareness of the problems that come from eating raw fish and not throwing waste containing liver fluke eggs from sewage trucks into public water sources. The monks from the 4 provinces of Roi Kaen and Sarasin who came today are monks who are driving and raising awareness of the dangers of liver fluke and bile duct cancer for our brothers and sisters. Therefore, today is a good opportunity to make merit together, join forces to solve this problem together, to help extend the lives of the relatives and people of Isan.” Monks are considered another person who transmits knowledge and is a social driver (Social