Patients with rare blood cancer treated in Hyderabad

Three patients with rare blood cancer were treated in the city. The patients were suffering from rare Bone Marrow Stem Cell Disorders of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria (PNH) a bone marrow stem cell disease, which leads to rapid destruction of red cells; Biphenotypic Acute Leukemia a rare type of Blood cancer with less than 8% survival rate and Aplastic Anaemia - a disease of Bone marrow, which curtails blood cells production.

The patients were treated at Apollo Cancer Institute. Stem cell transplant is cure for many blood disorders and is being used to treat cancer patients. Dr Padmaja Lokireddy, Consultant Haemato oncology and Stem cell Transplant, Apollo Cancer Institute said, “There are few centres in India with the expertise and equipment to treat patients with stem cell transplant.”

Biswajit Saha, a 37-year old farmer from Assam, was suffering from rare bone marrow stem cell disorder called PNH which occurs in 1 among 10 lakh population. He was suffering with Anaemia, red colored urine due to breakage of his red blood cells for the last two years. Such patients develop blood clots in the main blood vessels and if left untreated can develop life threatening heart and lung problems.

The option available for Saha was an antibody treatment called Eculizumab (solaris), to be taken every week for lifetime. This medication is not available currently in India and is also way beyond his means, costing Rs 8 lakhs per week. Therefore the second-best treatment option was bone marrow Transplant.

He has undergone the first PNH transplant in India four months ago, with the bone marrow donated by his brother. He has since recovered fully and is going about with his daily routine, in his village. Since the transplant he has not needed any blood transfusion and his lung and heart functions reverted to normal.

A thirty one year old mother of two, Kavitha was diagnosed with Biphenotypic Acute Leukemia, a lethal ailment with two different types of blood cancers - acute Myeloid and Acute Lymphoid Leukemia, manifesting simultaneously.

She had 98% disease in the bone marrow, in the chest and abdomen, cancer cells were detected even in the brain. The survival rate of patients with this type of leukemia was a dismal 8%. Dr Ravindra Babu, Medical Superintendent, Apollo Hospitals said, “We had to compromise with a donor of a different blood group with 90% match from Bangalore.

The transplant performed with all the associated challenges was of very high risk and extremely complex. Subsequent to the transplant she contracted Cytomegalovirus virus infection; she fought through it and has now crossed 100 days which is a giant milestone in the transplant process.

Her blood test reveals 99% of Donor DNA type which gives reassurance that her Leukemia is cured.” The third patient, Prathima a 32 year old lady was diagnosed with Aplastic anaemia three years ago and had very low platelet count.

For bone marrow transplantation she didn't have a matching family donor and donor stem cells were collected and airlifted fresh within 24 hours from Germany. Since her transplant she had not had any major complications and didn't need any platelet transfusions.