Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) on the rise in West Bengal, SGCCRI celebrates their 100th success
State accounts for 10% ofthe entire transplant in India. SGCCRI celebrates Life with 100 successful Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)
Priya Debnath, Takmaa News, Kolkata, 16th Jun 2023. : Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute (SGCCRI) reached a new milestone with 100 successful Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant since the department’s inception in 2013 – with no transplant related mortality so far. According to WBMI (Wotldwide Network of Blood and Marrow ‘Transplant), 90000 hematopoietic stem cell transplants per year are performed worldwide and 1.5 million HCTwere performed by 2019 since 1957.
nI India, transplant activities started ni 1983 arid according ot ISBMI registry 2020,a total of19421 HCT has been reported from 97 transplant centers. Of these, 11413 were also SCT and 8008 were auto SCT. In West Bengal there are eight-transplant centers sharing data to ISBMT. The transplant program in WB has picked up recently over the past 6 to 7 years, with the commencement of DM hematology courses in NRS and IHTM. WB contributes around 8 to 10% of the total transplants in
India.
A Bone Matrow ‘Transplant is a procedure that infuses healthy blood forming stem cells into your body to replace bonemarrow that’s not producing enough healthy blood cells. BMT saves the lives of patients with blood cancer and serious blood disorders like thalassemia major, aplastic anemia, and primary immune deficiency. There are mainly two types of transplant: Autologous and Allogeneic, with SGCCRI currently performing Autologous transplant and working on to include Allogeneic in their transplant programme soon.
Mr. Anjan Gupta, Hony Secretary said “We are delighted to announce that out institute has completed 10 successful bone marrow transplantations while celebrating our 50th anniversaty. As you may know, the vision and dream of our founder, Dr. Saroj Gupta was making this Institute a comprehensive Cancer Centre including setting up a state-of-the-art BMT unit at our institute. After his demise in 2010 this unit was established in 2013 and his dream was finally realised. This unit has played acrucial role in the success of our BM’T program. We are proud of our achievements and will continue to strive for excellence in the field of bone marrow transplantation. We hope that our success will inspire others to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact on society.
Commenting on the milestone, Dr. Arnab Gupta, Medical Director, SGCCRI said, “We are delighted to successfully complete 100 BMT surgeries in our campus. SGCCRI has a dedicated BMT unit and ICU with a multidisciplinary team including oncologists, cardiologists and nurses. Before undertaking a BMT, the patient’s cuttent health and disease history is evaluated and prior treatment is given accordingly. It is made sure that the patient is in the best possible health.”
Di. R. N. Ghosh, H.O.D, Haemato Oncology (Adult& Paediattic) said “LateDr. Saroj Gupta and myself had many discussions about starting Bone Marrow transplant in our institute. But I always told him that we have to upgrade our infrastructure and also train a team. We chose Dr. Partha Pratim Gupta and send him to Gujrat for 6 months training. After that we send him to USA for higher training. When he came back our BMT unit was ready. The journey of fulfilling transplant. Since then we have performed 100 BMT till March 2023.Dr. P.P.Gupta has done a wonderful job of leading the BMT team.
Sharing his experience of100 BMTs, Dr. P. P. Gupta, In Charge of BM’T, SGCCRI said, “What we have noticed is, slightly more autologous (53.5%) than allogenic and more related (53.6% than unrelated HCT were reported. HCT are increasing steadily worldwide with narrowing gaps between regions and greater increase in allogeneic compared to autologous activity. While related HCT is rising, largely due to increase in haploidentical HCT, unrelated HCT is plateauing and cord blood HCT isin decline.”
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Dr. Arijit Bishnu, In Charge, Haemato Oncology (Adult & Paediattic) said “Bone marrow
transplant (BMI) is a life-saving procedure for many patients with blood cancers and blood
disorders, but high costs prevent the majority from using it. In BM’T, the patient receives healthy
stem cells either from their own body (autologous transplant) or from a donor (allogenic transplant).
The cost of an allogenic transplant from an unrelated donor is Rs 15-20 lakh even in government
hospitals and can go up to Rs 35 lakh in the private sector. Autologous transplants cost up to Rs 8
lakh in the private sector., 60-65% of eligible patients are unable to undergo the procedure, mainly
due to cost. At SGCCRI we have successfully completed 100+ BMT with very affordable cost with
great success and will continue the service so that more eligible patients can achieve cancer free survival.”
In SGCCRI, Usually, the patients are discharged after 18 – 25 days after the transplant. But the care for the patients does not stop when they leave the hospital as-the transplant team continues to track their condition for years after the bone marrow transplant.
