Page 10 - SOUTH FLORIDA HOPSITAL NEWS JUNE 2021

Using Stem Cell Transplants

to Treat Challenging Diseases

in Children

Rated as South Florida’s dicting the likelihood of
first and most experienced finding a match. This is
pediatric Blood and Marrow because HLA markers
Transplant Program, the used in matching are
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital inherited and some ethnic
state-of-the-art transplant groups have more com-
unit is run by our KIDZ plex tissue types than oth-
Medical team. According to ers. So, a person’s best
the National Marrow Donor chance of finding a donor
Program, the dedication and may be with someone of
extensive training of our the same ethnic back-
staff is credited with out- ground. In spite of these
comes that well exceed pre- BY JORGE GÁLVEZ issues in our multicultur-
dicted results. SILVA, M.D. al community, our team at
In fact, our team does an Nicklaus has achieved
average of 30 to 35 stem cell extraordinarily good out-
transplants per year. comes.
Bone marrow transplant places healthy Stem cell transplantation is a relatively
stem cells into a child’s body to treat cer- new science. The first stem cell trans-
tain types of cancer such as leukemia, plant, an allogeneic procedure, was per-
lymphoma, and neuroblastoma. formed by Nobel Laureate Dr. E. Donnall
Transplants can also cure numerous Thomas in 1957. The science was further
other disorders such as sickle cell dis- perfected at the University of Minnesota
ease, thalassemia, metabolic and and since that time, the field has contin-
immune diseases, and bone marrow fail- ued to evolve and expand. Most recently,
ure syndromes. we have been able to extract immune
Stem cells have the ability to restore effector cells, which we genetically mod-
healthy blood-forming cells to a child. ify to fight cancer. Moreover, we are
Autologous transplantation allows doc- using autologous genetic edited
tors to administer higher doses of hematopoietic stem cells to correct dis-
chemotherapy to eliminate cancer more eases such as Adrenoleukodystrophy,
effectively without causing prolonged Chronic Granulomatous Disease, and
bone marrow suppression. Infused sickle cell disease.
healthy stem cells from the child’s body Established in 1991, the Nicklaus
will repopulate the bone marrow. Center is FACT- (Foundation for the
When no autologous healthy cells are Accreditation of Cellular Therapy)
available, a matching donor is found in accredited and continues to meet exceed-
order to perform an allogeneic trans- ingly high benchmarks in patient care
plant, helping to suppress the disease and laboratory practices. In addition,
and replace the child’s immune system KIDZ Medical Services is the leading
with a healthy one. provider of care to children and
Both procedures are analogous to teenagers with cancer in South Florida.
planting a garden; we gather the stem Our specialists are experts in the treat-
cells like seeds and “plant” them back ment of a variety of bone marrow-related
into the body. This replaces damaged and blood disorders, brain tumors, and
stem cells with healthy ones that can other pediatric cancers and related disor-
repair a weakened immune system and ders, in addition to non-cancerous con-
reconstitute other cells that are needed in ditions.
the blood. We stay on top of the latest medical
Sometimes a parent or sibling is a data and research through our national
match, but not always, making bone research collaborations with other clini-
marrow transplantation in South cians, institutions and through participa-
Florida’s multinational, multicultural tion in international organizations such
environment even more challenging. The as Children’s Oncology Group, Be T*he
key is the human leukocyte antigen Match, the Pediatric Blood and Marrow
(HLA), a protein system for immune Transplant Consortium, and the
recognition that is found on most of the American Society of Transplant and
body’s cells. After stem cells are donated, Cellular Therapy.
a cheek swab is used to determine if the We place our patients and families at
candidate is a match. Once a match is the core of their treatment plan, and it is
located, the next step is peripheral with- our life’s work to walk beside them on
drawal, in which we either use growth this journey.
factor injections to stimulate stem cell
production, or the bone marrow is har- Dr. Jorge Gálvez Silva is a
vested from the pelvic bone through Hematologist/Oncologist at KIDZ Medical
ambulatory surgery. Services and Medical Director of the Blood
According to Be The Match, a patient’s & Bone Marrow Transplant Program at
ethnic background is important in pre- Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

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10 June 2021 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News