Successful treatment of blood cancer with stem cells

After 2 months of successfully transplanting stem cells of the same type, treating white blood disease at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, on July 15, patient Nguyen Thi Lan (21 years old, Hai Phong Medical University student) has been discharged.

The patient is Nguyen Thi Lan, 21, from Bac Ninh (Hai Phong Medical University student) who has white blood disease (leukemia). In early 2008, when the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion selected patients to perform the first homosexual stem cell transplant, Lan had an older sister who had her harmonious criteria so she was officially selected. .

On May 31, 2008, the patient received transfusions of hematopoietic stem cells from her older sister after a chemical treatment process that reduced cancer cells.

The patient was then given 5 units of erythrocyte mass and 5 units of platelet mass decoupling from a donor by using leukocyte radiotherapy.

After five days of leukemia treatment began to decrease and after 10 days the white blood cell count returned to normal. The patient exhibits fever and anti-host graft disease (cells are grafted against the body) palmar and foot nodules are red. The patient was treated with antibiotics and immunosuppressed during the treatment period of 100 days as prescribed.

Lan patients during treatment at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.(Photo: National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion)

The patient's test was sent to the American Institute of Health with a completely normal myelogram, no cancer cells found. The patient was discharged on July 10 in a healthy condition. However, in the next 3 months, Lan must still be monitored, examined and tested every week.

The condition of the same type of bone marrow transplantation, the donor has 6 pairs of essential genes that coincide with the recipient and the same blood group - this can only be found in siblings who are siblings. To treat Lan, the Institute mobilized 300 volunteers and Lan's blood group to take blood when needed.

After the success of this transplant, the Institute will continue to treat the second case, the patient Le Minh Nguyet, 24 years old. Both of these cases are treated with free funding from the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

Patient Nguyen Thi Lan (left) and her sister.(Photo: Ngoc Huyen)