UAE’s ADSCC Unveils Innovative Cancer Treatment Using TILs
In a significant breakthrough for cancer treatment, the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center (ADSCC) has announced a pioneering medical achievement. This innovation involves the successful isolation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from breast and lung tumors, marking the first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates.
A New Era in Immunotherapy
This achievement signals the initiation of the first program in the UAE dedicated to developing an advanced form of immunotherapy. This approach utilizes the patient’s own cells to combat cancer. The project focuses on TILs, a sophisticated and personalized treatment that has shown promising results in treating aggressive cancers. The initiative is being implemented as part of an observational study approved by the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi.
Unlike conventional treatments like chemotherapy, which can indiscriminately affect both healthy and cancerous cells, TIL therapy aims to bolster the body’s natural defenses. The process involves extracting immune cells from a tumor sample, cultivating them in a specialized laboratory to multiply them into the billions, and then reintroducing them into the patient’s body to precisely target and destroy cancer cells.
How TIL Therapy Works
Dr. Zaima Mazura Herrera, the lead researcher on the TILs project at ADSCC, explains, “We are transforming the patient’s own tumor into a personal army to fight cancer. These cells are naturally trained to recognize this specific type of cancer. Our role is to isolate them, multiply them in vast numbers in our labs, and then return them to the patient to perform their function effectively. It’s a living treatment, designed specifically for each individual.”
Promising Results and Future Prospects
This treatment has demonstrated particularly encouraging results in treating melanoma (a dangerous form of skin cancer) and holds promise for other solid tumors, including those affecting the cervix, lungs, head, and neck. For many patients who have exhausted traditional treatment options, TIL therapy offers a beacon of hope.
In a press statement, ADSCC highlighted that this achievement, coinciding with the UAE’s National Day, which embodies innovation and progress, underscores the commitment to providing world-class medical solutions within the Emirates. This project reduces the need for patients to travel abroad for advanced care, solidifying the UAE’s position as a leader in medical advancements. The center’s GMP-compliant laboratories and stringent safety protocols ensure that the treatment is produced to the highest international standards.
Advancing Medical Frontiers
This breakthrough paves the way for the large-scale production of TILs and genetically modified TCR cells, as well as the launch of future clinical trials. According to Professor Yendry Ventura, CEO of ADSCC, “This is not just a new treatment, but a new model for cancer treatment in the UAE and the entire region. By developing these capabilities locally, we are not only providing our patients with a new and effective weapon against cancer but also contributing to global scientific knowledge. This program reinforces our position as pioneers in medical innovation and represents a moment of national pride, perfectly aligned with the visionary leadership we celebrate on our National Day.”
This achievement is a result of ongoing collaboration between the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi (DoH), Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD), and SEHA (the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company), essential partnerships that support the ambition of building an integrated system for advanced cancer treatment in the UAE.
ADSCC plans to launch clinical studies to collect initial tumor samples, with a roadmap designed to make this treatment available to a larger number of eligible patients in the UAE through upcoming clinical trials. (Source: Annahar)
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