Immune Cell Therapy Programme takes shape in Vietnam through Indo-Japan Collaboration

NCRM scientists train Vietnamese experts in the proven Japanese technology

Autologous Immune Enhancement Therapy (AIET) which uses different kinds of immune cells viz., Natural Killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTLs), Dendritic cells (DCs), Gamma delta (γδ) T cells and Alpha Beta (αβ) T cells is an approved treatment under the Regenerative Medicine Law in Japan being provided to cancer patients. Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) through their Japanese Liaison Office GN Corporation (GNC) jointly with technology partner Biotherapy Institute in Japan have helped the Vinmec International Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam to successfully accomplish such immune cell expansion in their own laboratory and provide this therapy to patients in Vietnam.

In a workshop conducted on the January 19, 2018 in the Vinmec International Hospital, the outcome of a two-year track record of this treatment provided to Vietnamese patients was presented by the local oncology and immunology experts and the results were in par with that of Japanese standards. Cancer being a disease requiring a multi-modal treatment approach, enhancing and improvising existing autologous immune cell based therapies was discussed in the workshop attended by the eminent Immunotherapy specialist Dr Hiroshi Terunuma of the Biotherapy institute of Japan.

Using novel biomaterials for encapsulation and stabilization of cells in the laboratory and application of physical modalities like microgravity enhancing the functional capabilities of different kinds of immune cells and stem cells was presented by NCRM scientists. A patent on these lines has also been filed jointly by Indian and Japanese Institutes. In addition to NK cell and T cell based autologous immune cell based therapies being provided in Vietnam since January 2016, dendritic cell based immunotherapy services has been launched now.

Bringing together a multinational expertise of varied domains of science such as biomaterials, cell culture, tissue engineering, oncology and immunology in improvising the healthcare solutions is of significant importance especially to tackle cancer, opined an expert.