The transplantation of special stem cells from umbilical cord blood has most likely cured a New York patient of both her leukemia and her HIV disease. American scientists report this in the journal Cell. It would be the first successful treatment of a non-white woman.
Three cases of a cure for HIV have been reported so far: the corresponding patients in Berlin, London and Düsseldorf all received a special stem cell transplant due to a parallel cancer. Those stem cells had a specific gene mutation called CCR5Δ32. This mutation ensures that there is no docking place for HIV on the immune cells. Without it, the virus cannot enter and infect cells, making carriers of the mutation almost resistant to the pathogen.
Mutation is extremely rare
According to lead author Yvonne Bryson, these carriers make up only about one percent of the white population, and the mutation is even rarer in other groups. In a stem cell transplant, however, it is crucial that donor and recipient match as closely as possible, Bryson explained at a press conference about the study. “It is extremely rare for people of different races or races to find a suitably matched unrelated adult donor.”
The team therefore decided to transplant stem cells with the rare mutation from umbilical cord blood to the non-white patient. Such cells, which come from voluntary donations and are collected in designated blood banks, are still very immature, preventing the otherwise frequent rejection reactions.
The transplant took place in 2017
The transplant took place in 2017 – in a procedure that does not resemble a surgical procedure, but rather a blood transfusion that takes place after chemotherapy and radiation, explains Dr Jingmei Hsu. In fact, both the patient’s HIV infection and leukemia were successfully controlled.
The antiviral HIV medication could be stopped 37 months after surgery. “Today the patient is doing very well, she is traveling, visiting her family and enjoying her life,” Hsu said.
Healing will take a few years for sure
Although no virus remains can be demonstrated, the doctors do not yet want to speak of a complete cure. That certainty would only come in the coming years. Because of the many risks, such a stem cell transplant is only an option in the context of the treatment of other life-threatening diseases such as cancer.
Researchers recommend setting up blood banks
Nevertheless, the method expands the circle of potential patients, according to the study authors. They advocate establishing cord blood banks across the board, encouraging donors, and then testing the donated blood for the CCR5Δ32 mutation.
Source: Krone
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