A new hope in the fight against AIDS. An American patient has just been cured of HIV and leukemia, the City of Hope cancer research institute in California announced Wednesday. The 66-year-old patient received a stem cell transplant for nearly three and a half years for his blood cancer. During this treatment, the HIV virus simply stopped replicating in his body.
“When I was diagnosed with HIV in 1988, like many others, I thought it was a death sentence,” the man said in a statement released by the Institute.
The one who wishes to remain anonymous was declared in remission 17 months after stopping his treatment for the virus. “He may have been able to stop therapy earlier, but I wanted to wait until he was vaccinated against Covid-19,” City of Hope said.
“Open opportunities for older patients”
He is the fourth patient in history to experience long-term HIV remission and, more importantly, the oldest patient to date.
“The patient’s case opens up opportunities for older patients living with HIV and blood cancer to receive a transplant and achieve remission of both diseases if a donor with a rare genetic mutation can be identified,” the Institute said.
Because this cure was possible thanks to a rare genetic mutation received during his stem cell transplant: the homozygous CCR5 Delta 32. It prevents HIV from replicating in the blood and therefore makes the patient resistant to the virus.
“A Medical Step”
“We are delighted to inform you that your HIV is in remission and you no longer need to take the antiretroviral treatment you have been receiving for more than 30 years,” says Professor Jana Dickter, a physician in the division of infectious diseases at the Institute.
“He saw many of his friends die of AIDS in the early days of the disease and was heavily stigmatized when he was diagnosed with HIV in 1988. But now he can celebrate this medical milestone,” she says.
“We are proud to have contributed to helping patients achieve remission from HIV and leukemia. We are humbled that our pioneering science in bone marrow and stem cell transplants, as well as our research in precision oncology medicine, have helped transform this patient’s life,” said Robert Stone, president and CEO of City of Hope.
Source: BFM TV
