Kerala Hospital Makes Use of Rare Treatment To Save Acute Blood Cancer Patient

The Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) has carried out a rare treatment procedure to save a 19-year-old girl suffering from acute blood cancer or acute myeloid leukaemia.

The treatment protocol, 'Microtransplant', involves normal chemotherapy followed by infusion of intentionally mismatched cells.

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Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the cancer of white blood cells characterized by excess lymphoblasts. It is the most common of all childhood cancers and can be fatal in weeks if left untreated.

The unique procedure is based on immunological killing of leukemic cells.

A team of specialist doctors led by Neeraj Sidharth, head of bone and marrow transplant programme at Amrita Institute, began this treatment after the girl's condition slipped into a life-threatening stage even after two cycles of chemotherapy.

The unique procedure is based on immunological killing of leukemic cells.

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The result was a success, say AIMS experts.

"Worldwide cellular therapy has been done in a more sophisticated and costly manner in select centres at North America. What we attempted was similar to what has been already tried in Israel and China and published in reputed scientific journals," said Sidharth, who was guided by experts in the field from Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, US, and from China.

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Unlike normal treatment for acute blood cancer, heavy dose of chemotherapy is not required for this procedure.

Microtransplant is cost effective and the patient needs to be hospitalised for just three weeks.

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"The success of the treatment protocol is a major breakthrough and opens up a window of opportunity for those select patients with relapsed and refractory leukaemia," Sidharth added.

Source-Medindia