Stem cell therapy for thalassemia patients
New technologies like organic cement used in repairing spinal fractures might soon help bone marrow cancer patients.
A project led by University of Leeds engineers will focus on the incurable cancer of the bone marrow that causes destructive lesions (abnormal tissue) in bones and makes them more susceptible to fracture.
The study will analyze whether techniques such as injecting organic cements into the spine to stabilize the bone, or using plates to fix fractures can be adapted for affected patients.
Although incurable, improvements in treatment mean that patients with multiple myeloma (cancer of the white blood cells) are surviving for longer, with up to a third surviving for at least five years.
However, a better prognosis means that secondary symptoms, such as painful bone deterioration, have more time to take effect.
“Our aim is to give people suffering from this disease a better quality of life. If the spine becomes weakened or fractures, patients can do little more than stay in bed and try to deal with the pain,” Richard Hall, professor of spinal biomechanics, who is leading the research.
“The majority of multiple myeloma patients are in their 60s or older, but even simple things that we take for granted, such as sitting your grandchild on your knee, can become impossible for them,” Hall said, according to a Leeds release
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