Blood cancer is cancer that affects the blood cells. There are various types of blood cancer. If these conditions remain untreated, they cause fatalities. Fortunately, blood cancer, if diagnosed in the initial stages, is manageable, with treatments evolving rapidly. Newer treatment approaches are improving remission and survival rates.
In addition, recent medical breakthroughs have enabled researchers to identify specific gene mutations to target for efficient recovery. BLK Max hospital is a premier cancer hospital in Delhi with a longstanding track record for comprehensive blood cancer treatment. They specialize in innovative methods like chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants. Here are some innovative blood cancer treatment options in Delhi.
Current blood cancer treatments
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is not a new method for blood cancer treatment in Delhi, though it is still a tried-and-trusted treatment option. Even though there are other methods to consider, chemotherapy is always the first treatment option for most cancers. Chemotherapy introduces an anti-cancer drug into a patient’s body either orally or intravenously. The anti-cancer drug prevents the growth of cancer cells and targets the existing ones.
- Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy can be used independently or combined with chemotherapy. It treats cancer by killing the cancerous cells using streams of high energy. The energy is transmitted through an internal solid/liquid source or an external machine.
External radiation therapy is mainly used to target cells without affecting other tissue. However, internal radiation therapy has disadvantages because it can damage cancer cell DNAs while targeting normal cells. Therefore, the patient’s blood count should be monitored to check if blood transfusions are necessary.
- Bone Marrow transplant
A bone marrow transplant treats cancer by replacing the non-functional and diseased bone marrow parts. It can be treated in two ways, including;
Autologous BMT
In an autologous bone marrow transplant, the individual is both the donor and recipient. This method is beneficial because there are minimal cases of immune rejection. However, there is a higher risk of patients developing cancer.
Allogenic BMT
Allogenic BMT means that the stem cell recipient and donor are two different individuals. Even if the patient and donor are related, immune rejection is a possibility. However, the chances of recurring cancer are rare. Considering donor stem cells are cancer-free, immunosuppression is necessary.
Research and innovation in blood cancer treatment in India
Currently, cutting-edge research and innovation are on for blood cancer treatments in Delhi. By 2017, the United State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved around 53 therapies targeting specific cancers. Most of these therapies are used in premier research institutions throughout India. Some of the innovative treatments include;
- CAR-T cell therapy
CART-T cell therapy is one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs for researchers globally, considering its outstanding results. This method is primarily for treating acute lymphoid leukemia and Large B-cell lymphoma. This procedure entails reprogramming and engineering a patient’s T cells to release particular protein receptors dubbed Chimeric Antigen Receptors.
CAR-T cells are specific to antigens found in the cancerous cells and improve cell recognition and apoptosis. Improved “off-the-shelf immunotherapy” allogenic CAR-T therapy will soon be a widely embraced treatment option.
- Precision medicine
Chemotherapy is the most prevalent cancer treatment therapy globally. However, certain blood cancer conditions require specialized treatment plans. It means that researchers have to develop treatment options beyond ‘one-size-fits-all.’ Precision medicine is now being embraced to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. This innovative approach to treating blood cancer is promising in precision medicine therapies.
- Nanomedicine
Nanoparticles are tiny systems with unique physiochemical properties from their size and excellent surface-to-volume ratio. Innovative blood cancer treatments use biocompatible nanoparticles to bypass issues with conventional treatments. Some of the issues nanomedicine can overcome include low bioavailability and specificity of contrast agents or drugs. In addition, encapsulating active agents into nanoparticles increase biocompatibility and stability in body fluids for targeted therapy.
- Extracellular vesicles for diagnosis and therapy
Extracellular vesicles are categorized into two based on their biogenesis. In particular, exosomes are small vesicles originating from endosomes in pathological and physiological conditions. These exosomes are released when multivesicular bodies fuse with the cell membrane. Today, EVs are used in diagnosing and treating cancer through bidirectional communication within tumor cells and body tissues.
Circulating ventricles can now be used clinically to diagnose cancer and follow-up prognosis. Exosomes can further be categorized as diagnostic tools and can also be isolated to be used as vaccines for cancer. Other innovative methods use the exosomes as nanomedicine for blood cancer treatments in Delhi.
Advances in research and innovation of cancer treatments hold hope for millions of cancer patients. The objective is to make cancer a manageable disease despite its high fatality rate. Patients are expected to get treatments specific to their conditions with these innovative blood cancer treatment methods. However, advancements in treatments bear fruit when they are available to the mass and at reasonable costs. Scientists and researchers are working towards this goal in the ongoing battle against cancer.
