WHY DINA IS PROUD: UAE's first CAR-T Cell Therapy

 

Any medical breakthrough is a milestone in the medical field in any country is a milestone for everyone. It gives us reassurance that if the worst happens, there will always be a solution... not the most affordable, but still a solution (thankfully, most procedures in the UAE are covered by insurance!). 

Recently, a medical procedure called CAR-T Cell Therapy was done in the UAE. As of writing, it is the first therapy of its kind to take place in the country. The first patient in the world to undergo the therapy is Emily Whitehead, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the age of five. She started receiving CAR-T Cell Therapy two years later in April 2012 under clinical trial. 

Ten years later, Emily is cancer-free and thriving! 

In the UAE, the first CAR-T Cell Patient is an 11-year-old boy named Murad, who was diagnosed with Leukemia 5 years ago. Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) helped Murad to undergo the treatment. 

I will save you the time to look up what CAR-T Cell Therapy is. Here is how the therapy goes: First, there is the production of the cellular product known as CAR-T, which necessitates utilizing the patient's immune cells and entails a treatment plan spanning five weeks.

CAR T-cell therapy, a variant of immunotherapy, involves the conversion of T-cells into agents with an affinity for detecting cancer.

A patient is linked to a machine resembling dialysis equipment, which extracts a portion of their blood and separates the T-cells. The remaining blood is then returned to the patient's circulation.

Subsequently, within a laboratory environment, these T-cells undergo a complex genetic modification process to become skilled hunters, meticulously programmed to recognize and eliminate the patient's cancer.

This alteration is achieved through the utilization of a deactivated virus, enabling the insertion of genetic instructions directing the cells to manufacture a specialized protein termed a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). This CAR protein is designed to identify a specific protein present in the patient's cancer cells.

The T-cells are subsequently multiplied with precision in the laboratory and subsequently administered to the patient via intravenous infusion.

Following introduction into the patient's system, these specialized cells are expected to home in on cancer cells harboring the target protein, effectively eradicating them. Encouragingly, these CAR T-cells are projected to persist within the patient's body as a 'living drug,' serving as a safeguard against the reoccurrence of cancer. 

The UAE Pro League has extended a special invitation to Murad to commence the match between Al Wahda and Hatta football teams on September 24th at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

This collaborative effort emphasizes the significance of innovation and cooperation in the quest for improved health and wellness in the UAE. It also serves as a celebration of Murad's successful treatment.

Yes, the first of its kind happened 10 years ago. Many will say that the UAE has fallen far behind! But again, we like to believe that the only direction the wind blows is forward. Progress is progress. This milestone will be just one of the many more that the UAE will have in just the next few years. 

This compassionate gesture showcases solidarity with Murad and his family, reaffirms the commitment to assisting young individuals like him, and reflects a broader mission to provide support to all children facing the challenges of leukemia.