RGCIRC sets record with 200 successful stem cell transplants in 2024

New Delhi: Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC) has reached a new milestone by performing 200 stem cell transplants in 2024. RGCIRC began its stem cell transplant program in 2007 and has completed around 2,000 transplants.

Stem cell transplants significantly increase the chances of curing cancers resistant to standard therapies. These include blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.

“Initial results of stem cell therapy are promising. While most patients are under observation, the absence of cancer within six to twelve months post-transplant significantly lowers the chances of relapse. We are closely monitoring each patient, who are close to being declared cancer-free,” said Dr. Dinesh Bhurani, Director of Hemato-Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant at RGCIRC.

The institute has also expanded its expertise to non-cancerous conditions like thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder. In these cases, defective stem cells are replaced with healthy ones, restoring normal blood production and eliminating the need for lifelong blood transfusions.

RGCIRC’s stem cell transplant program caters to patients at different stages of blood cancer. For early-stage cases, transplants are performed after initial treatment to prevent relapse and improve long-term outcomes. In relapsed cases, transplants offer a critical second chance, enhancing the chances of recovery.

RGCIRC uses two main types of stem cell transplants. In Autologous Transplants, the patient’s own stem cells are collected and stored, allowing doctors to give stronger chemotherapy to destroy cancer. The stored stem cells are then returned to the patient to help recovery. In Allogenic Transplants, donor stem cells are used which not only replace diseased cells but also actively attack cancer cells, improving the patient’s chances of recovery.

For cases where chemotherapy is ineffective, allogenic transplants—involving donor stem cells—offer renewed hope.

Haploidentical transplants, or half-match transplants, a type of allogenic transplant, have been available in India for the last few years.

“Many centers have struggled with achieving good results. While a 100% match was the standard in the past, we now successfully perform 50% match transplants as well. RGCIRC is proud to be one of the largest centers in North India for half-match transplants, offering outcomes comparable to those in the Western world,” added Dr. Bhurani.

Stem cell transplants are more than a medical procedure; they are a lifeline for patients battling cancer and genetic disorders. By integrating cutting-edge techniques and maintaining outcomes comparable to Western standards, RGCIRC continues to transform lives and deliver hope to countless families.