A promising new treatment against resistant leukemia could make it possible to treat many children as early as 2024 during clinical trials.
This treatment, developed by a team from CHU Sainte-Justine, consists of transplanting cells called ThINKK into the patient. The latter are cultured from cord blood – collected after childbirth by Héma-Québec – and are intended to activate the “killer” cells transmitted by the bone marrow transplant.
“There is no more effective way to activate NK cells against leukemia than ours,” said Dr. Michel Duval, head of the hematology-oncology department at CHU Sainte-Justine, in a press release. .
According to preclinical trials, a cure has been observed in 80% of cases, even for more serious cases. “We succeeded in destroying leukemia cells from a patient who had one of the most aggressive myeloid leukemias I have seen in my career,” added Dr. Duval.
The first phase of clinical trials could begin as early as 2024 if Health Canada and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States give the green light.