The Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC) has achieved a major milestone by performing 200 stem cell transplants in 2024, reinforcing its position as a leader in advanced cancer treatment. Since launching its stem cell transplant program in 2007, the institute has successfully conducted around 2,000 transplants, offering renewed hope to patients battling blood cancers and genetic disorders.

Stem cell transplants play a crucial role in treating cancers that do not respond to conventional therapies, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. According to Dr. Dinesh Bhurani, Director of Hemato-Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant at RGCIRC, initial outcomes of the procedure are highly encouraging. He emphasized that most patients remain under observation, but the absence of cancer within six to twelve months post-transplant significantly reduces the risk of relapse. Many patients, he noted, are on the verge of being declared cancer-free.

Beyond cancer treatment, RGCIRC has expanded its expertise to non-cancerous conditions such as thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder. By replacing defective stem cells with healthy ones, patients can restore normal blood production, eliminating the need for lifelong blood transfusions. The institute’s transplant program caters to patients at various stages of disease progression. For early-stage cases, transplants help prevent relapse and improve long-term survival. In relapsed cases, they provide a critical second chance at recovery.

RGCIRC employs both autologous and allogenic transplants in its treatment approach. Autologous transplants involve collecting and storing a patient’s own stem cells, allowing doctors to administer aggressive chemotherapy to eliminate cancer before reinfusing the healthy cells. In allogenic transplants, donor stem cells are used, not only to replace diseased cells but also to attack residual cancer, increasing the chances of remission.

For patients who do not respond to chemotherapy, allogenic transplants offer new hope. Among these, haploidentical transplants—or half-match transplants—have gained prominence in India. Traditionally, a full genetic match was considered essential, but medical advancements now allow successful procedures with a 50% donor match. Dr. Bhurani noted that while many centers have struggled to achieve positive results with half-match transplants, RGCIRC has successfully performed them with outcomes comparable to those seen in the Western world. As one of the largest centers in North India offering this procedure, the institute has significantly expanded treatment options for patients who previously had limited choices.

Stem cell transplants represent more than just a medical advancement; they are a lifeline for individuals battling life-threatening diseases. With cutting-edge techniques and world-class treatment standards, RGCIRC continues to transform lives, offering hope to patients and families facing some of the most challenging health conditions.