Advanced targeted and precision therapies are significantly improving survival rates and quality of life for patients with blood cancers, experts from the Department of Adult Hematology and Pediatric Oncology at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre (MMHRC) said at a press meet held in connection with World Cancer Day (February 4).
Doctors highlighted that unlike conventional chemotherapy, which uses high-dose cytotoxic drugs that damage both cancerous and healthy cells, targeted therapies act selectively on cancer cells, reducing toxicity and complications. Conventional chemotherapy often leads to severe infections, organ damage and prolonged hospitalisation, particularly among elderly and medically fragile patients.
Dr. T. Kasi Viswanathan, Senior Consultant and Head of Hemato Oncology, said targeted therapies are designed to specifically identify and attack leukemia cells. “In acute leukemia, chemotherapy destroys fast-growing cells indiscriminately. Targeted therapy recognises cancer cells and minimises damage to healthy tissues, improving tolerability and effectiveness,” he said. Among seven adult patients treated with targeted therapy, five are currently alive and leading healthy lives.
In pediatric cases, particularly refractory acute leukemia where treatment options are limited, advanced immunotherapies such as inotuzumab and blinatumomab have shown promising results. Four out of five children treated with these therapies achieved remission.
Dr. R. M. Annapoorani explained that inotuzumab is an antibody-drug conjugate that binds to a specific protein on leukemia cells and delivers a toxic payload directly inside them, sparing normal cells. Dr. V. Anitha noted that over 1,000 children aged 1 to 18 years with acute leukemia have been treated at the centre, with an overall survival rate of around 80 percent.
Dr. V. S. Venkateswaran added that about 20 percent of children require bone marrow transplantation. MMHRC, the first Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) centre in South Tamil Nadu, has performed over 450 transplants since 2015, achieving cure rates of 70–80 percent.
According to ICMR data, blood cancers occur at an incidence of 4–5 per lakh population annually in India. Experts emphasised that combining chemotherapy, targeted therapy and stem cell transplantation has enabled outcomes comparable to international standards, bringing advanced cancer care closer to patients in southern Tamil Nadu.