Cancer treatment breakthrough achieved by doctors in West Bengal
What's the story
Doctors at Narayana Health in West Bengal have performed a successful Haplo Cord transplant to treat a seven-year-old boy suffering from thalassemia. The child was diagnosed with HbE Beta thalassemia and required monthly blood transfusions. His parents were advised to register under the "Save the Sibling" program, which led them to undergo IVF (in vitro fertilization) and pre-implantation genetic testing.
Transplant details
Complications during transplant were effectively managed
The transplant was done using the cord blood from the patient's sibling and some of his father's stem cells. The procedure was carried out by Narayana Health.
During the transplant period, the child suffered from infections, mucositis, liver derangement, and persistent low blood counts. However, these complications were effectively managed by the medical team.
Medical breakthrough
Landmark achievement, says doctor
Commenting on the successful treatment, Joydeep Chakrabartty, Senior Consultant, Hemato Oncology & Clinical Lead - BMT Programme (East), Narayana Health, called it a landmark achievement.
He said that both patients were facing potential fatalities but have now turned their lives around for the better.
"Narayana Health has always been at the forefront in breaking new grounds in medical science, and these two cases clearly reflect that," Dr. Chakrabartty added.
Cancer treatment
CAR T-cell therapy used to treat brain cancer
In another case, a 62-year-old man from Myanmar was successfully treated for brain cancer with CAR T-cell therapy.
He was initially diagnosed with primary CNS lymphoma after showing gait disturbance.
After four cycles of high-dose chemotherapy yielded unsatisfactory results, the doctors decided to have him undergo CAR T-cell therapy.
The treatment involved lymphocyte collection and bridging with radiation and other medications before receiving a dual CAR targeting CD19 and CD22 on the cancer cells.