Disease

Therapy usually arranged by Lifeline

ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) is the most common childhood cancer representing c.75% of all cancers.  In the countries where we work c.75% of children are cured by chemotherapy alone (in the UK nearly 90%). Generally, Lifeline only becomes involved where a child has failed chemotherapy and needs a stem cell transplant (SCT) as the only remaining curative option. We are therefore working with the 25% most difficult and resistant ALL cases.

Stem cell transplant (SCT)

(formerly called Bone Marrow Transplant) in which the patient’s bone marrow is replaced by disease-free donor stem cells.

SAA (severe aplastic anaemia)

MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome).

These are both bone marrow failure conditions where the bone marrow cannot produce enough white cells, red cells or platelets. Without treatment the child inevitably dies.

Immuno-suppressive therapy (IST): the cause of bone marrow failure syndromes (SAA/MDS) is thought to be an immune mediated reaction by the lymphocytes, particularly the T-lymphocytes. IST suppresses these cells. SAA can be treated with immune-suppressive therapy (IST) which cures 2/3rds but there is a risk of future relapse so, if there is a matched sibling, SCT is the primary treatment of choice. MDS is curable only by SCT.

AML (acute myeloid leukaemia)

is less common than ALL but with a lower cure rate by chemotherapy, and some children can only be cured by SCT.

Stem cell transplant (SCT)

(formerly called Bone Marrow Transplant) in which the patient’s bone marrow is replaced by disease-free donor stem cells.

JMML (juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia)

A difficult disease which can only be cured by SCT.

Stem cell transplant (SCT)

(formerly called Bone Marrow Transplant) in which the patient’s bone marrow is replaced by disease-free donor stem cells.

PID (primary immune deficiency)

A group of diseases where the baby is born with a defective immune system, which is normally fatal in the first year of life unless the bone marrow is replaced in a SCT.

Stem cell transplant (SCT)

(formerly called Bone Marrow Transplant) in which the patient’s bone marrow is replaced by disease-free donor stem cells.

Bone tumours

(osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma)

These very aggressive tumours originate in the bones, often in early teenage years.  They need a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and prolonged physiotherapy, together with very expert control to find and treat metastases. In Italy about 65% of children are cured whereas in poor countries all children die, because the therapy skills are not available.

Limb-sparing surgery is used for bone sarcomas. Previously all patients underwent amputation of the limb. If the disease is diagnosed early enough, Italian surgeons are now able to replace the bone with a titanium prosthesis, thus saving the limb from amputation.