The role and effectiveness of cellular therapy and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children at the National Stem Cell Center (Hayat).

Abstract

Abstract:

Background: hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a treatment method with a high cure rate for hematologic malignancies, hemoglobinopathies, immune deficiencies and other diseases.

A pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been started recently in Syria since 2021 regarding the crisis.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of pediatric patients receiving stem cell transplant and the treatment outcome in the first pediatric HSCT center in Syria.

Methods: This study is a single-center retrospective analysis of 25 pediatric patients who underwent HSCT underage of 14 years in the national stem cell center (HAYAT) in Damascus within the period 2021–2023. The databases were created based on data were collected from patient medical records.

Results: A transplant related mortality (TRM) in autologous patients was 0% while, in allogeneic patients it was 5.5%. (1/18)

Disease free survival was 16 (88%) in allogeneic patients and 3 (42.8%) in autologous patients.

 4 (57%) of the autologous transplant patients had disease relapse, out of whom one patient died during the course of follow-up and 3 (42.8%) patients are alive under some sort of second line management.

Conclusions: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of pediatric HSCT patients transplanted so far. As a pediatric stem cell transplantation has recently been started in Syria, our data is comparable to international hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation centers in terms of complications and outcomes of treatment, despite all challenges and crisis in our country.

Keywords: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Pediatric, Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation, Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation.