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Abu Dhabi Creates Breakthrough Cancer Gene Treatment for This Boy

  • Publish date: Wednesday، 20 September 2023
Abu Dhabi Creates Breakthrough Cancer Gene Treatment for This Boy

An 11-year-old boy with leukaemia has been injected with the UAE's first CAR-T cells or supercharged genetically modified cells to fight cancer.

CAR-T cells is a ground-breaking blood cancer treatment in which a patient's own cells are modified to track down and eradicate the disease.

Murad was diagnosed with leukaemia more than five years ago. In the past six months, he underwent chemotherapy but did not respond to the treatment, and therefore the doctors recommended the CAR-T cell therapy as his only option.

Murad received the breakthrough therapy at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC).

The process entailed removing a type of immune system cell called the T-cell from the patient's blood. These cells are genetically modified, strengthened in the laboratory and then injected back into the patient where the cells continue to multiply.

This resulted in a five-week therapy schedule.

The treatment is designed for patients whose cancer has returned. It involves helping the patient's immune system to target and fight the cancer.  

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