new Delhi: AIIMS RP Center has started offering plaque radiotherapy with an Indian-made machine to treat children suffering from eye cancer.
Developed at the Baba Atomic Research Center (BARC) in Mumbai, the device is the first pediatric plaque provided to AIIMS. Delhi Free of charge.
“If your eye needs to be saved and a tumor needs radiation therapy, there is a radioactive plaque on the top of the eye that can stay and kill cancer cells. The plaque is implanted and surgically removed. Previously, these plaques were expensive and imported from Germany.But recently, AIIMS collaborated with Mumbai’s Baba Atomic Research Center to prepare the first Indian-made retinoblastoma plaques specifically for pediatric patients. I did,” said Dr. Bhavana Chawla, professor of ophthalmology at AIIMS.
The department has operated on three patients in the past three months. “The results are very good. It has been successful and we are encouraged by it. , is needed if it can save the eye,” she added.
Plaque radiotherapy was introduced to AIIMS in 2017. “Cost was one of his challenges for AIIMS, and then there was the logistical problem of transporting the parts.
This treatment uses high-energy x-rays or particles to kill cancer cells. It has the advantage of potentially preserving the vision of the eye compared to surgery.
Approximately 35 to 40 children are diagnosed with retinoblastoma each month at AIIMS.
Retinoblastoma is a genetic disease and is associated with the RB1 gene in India. However, recent studies at AIIMS have revealed that there are other genes that cause retinoblastoma. “Because the RB1 gene is a tumor suppressor gene, we know that it regulates the growth of cells. Okay, so we did targeted sequencing and found that other oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes were also mutated, but so far we’ve only focused on the RB1 gene. said Dr. Rima Dada, a faculty member in charge of the Molecular Reproduction and Genetic Facility.
Despite treatment, retinoblastoma remains likely to recur. Cancer recurrences can also occur in other parts of the body.
