2023-04-28 11:08:27
The study treated acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), in which these leukemia cells have a certain error in the DNA. The chance of survival for these babies is very small, with heavier chemotherapy often not working. Within two years, half of the babies become ill again, or some of them had already died.
After immunotherapy, 93 percent were still alive after two years. Without the drug blinatumobab this was 66 percent. This treatment is already being used in some adults and older children with ALL.
The research
In the study, thirty children were treated with binaltumomab in combination with chemotherapy. The results of the two-year study were compared to 214 children treated with chemotherapy alone.
While eighteen percent of the treated babies in this study developed cancer again or died within two years, this is a strong improvement according to the Princess Máxima Center.
Big steps
“This was a small study, but with a clear enough result that all babies with this form of leukemia now receive immunotherapy as part of standard treatment,” said pediatric oncologist and clinical pharmacologist Inge van der Sluis, who led the study.
“In a larger study with more children, we want to confirm the effect of blinatumomab. We also want to see whether babies benefit from two courses of blinatumomab and a reduction in chemotherapy, in order to further improve the quality of life.”
By: National Care Guide
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