Three years ago, 8-year-old Yueyue came to the Department of Hematology and Oncology of the Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University because of her “pale complexion for more than a month, 2 epistaxis, and 1 fever”. Yue was diagnosed with “acute common B lymphocytic leukemia”.
After combined chemotherapy, Yueyue’s disease quickly achieved complete remission. However, when entering the final maintenance treatment stage, in January 2022, minimal residual disease (MRD) was found in the bone marrow through bone marrow examination, which also means that Yueyue leukemia relapsed early.
Yueyue’s father told Jiupai News that shortly after his daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, he and his wife planned to have another child, in case Yueyue might use stem cells from fellow siblings for later treatment. “We also stored my brother’s umbilical cord blood in Chongqing at that time, but unfortunately it was contaminated by bacteria and could not be used.”
At the beginning of this year, after in-depth discussion and communication with the hospital experts, the medical team of the Department of Hematology and Oncology formulated a specific plan for Yueyue. A novel treatment regimen: belintuumab combined with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Fortunately, the test results showed that Yueyue and her 2-year-old sibling had a 10/10 HLA high-resolution match. After obtaining the consent of the parents, the team decided to choose Yueyue’s sibling as the transplant. the donor.
In February 2022, everything was ready. Yueyue started the infusion of belintoumumab and successfully achieved a second remission. During the period, the team also successfully completed the collection of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells for Yueyue’s brother for 2 consecutive days.
On April 1, 2022, the medical staff successfully returned the peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells of her brother to Yueyue. Hematopoietic reconstruction was successful after transplantation, and no serious complications occurred. On the 15th and 28th days after transplantation, the test results of the gene mosaicism of the donor and the recipient showed that the donor cells were completely implanted in the recipient. It also marks the success of the transplant operation.
“Although my younger brother is only 2 years old, he is very smart. He now knows that the extra needles on his body are to save his elder sister.” Yueyue’s father told reporters that the conventional chemotherapy method is very painful for the child, and new drugs are used. After the infusion method, the child was much more relaxed during the treatment process and was free from many side effects. “I am very lucky, and I am very grateful for the treatment plan provided by Chongqing Children’s Hospital.”
Director Yu Jie, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, “This team successfully completed the first case of belintuumab combined with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of children with relapsed acute B lymphocytic leukemia in Southwest China. , for the treatment of refractory and relapsed acute pre-B lymphocytic leukemia, a more precise and targeted new way of treatment has been explored, with better curative effect and lower toxic and side effects, allowing children with refractory and relapsed leukemia to obtain better outcomes. Treatment options, greater hope for survival.”
It is reported that Yueyue was discharged from the hospital on the 28th of last month, and now she is at home with the use of anti-rejection drugs, and is regularly reviewed once a week. “Just checked this morning and everything is fine.” Yueyue’s father told reporters that the 19th of next month will be her daughter’s 12th birthday, and she plans to let Yueyue return to school next year.
Yang Xiaochen, a journalist intern from the Nine Schools