Alternatives to chemotherapy and radiation therapy

According to a research report published in the journal Nature Medicine, a new experimental antibody drug has opened a new avenue for people needing stem cell transplants (found in bone marrow) to treat various forms of blood cancer.

Doctor Agnieszka Czechowicz. Photo: STANFORD

The study showed that the antibody-based drug briquilimab does not cause the toxicity or side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Briquilimab targets CD117, a protein found on hematopoietic stem cells that controls their growth. The trial was conducted at Stanford School of Medicine (California, USA) on three children with Fanconi anemia, a rare genetic disorder that can cause cancer. Each child received only one infusion of briquilimab 12 days before stem cell transplantation. The results showed that after 30 days, healthy cells from the donor had almost completely covered the children's bone marrow.

The research team is currently conducting a mid-stage trial with several other children with Fanconi anemia, and is also planning trials on other genetic diseases requiring bone marrow transplantation. The study's lead co-author, Dr. Agnieszka Czechowicz, said that this treatment approach not only eliminates the need for radiation and chemotherapy but also yields superior results.

KHANH MINH

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/thuoc-thay-hoa-tri-va-xa-tri-post810910.html