Why clean rooms?
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of childhood cancer. In the Netherlands, about 110 children are diagnosed with the disease every year. Leukemia develops when lymphocytes, a particular kind of white blood cells, start growing uncontrollably. As a result, there is no space left for the production of healthy blood cells. Leukemia is treated with chemotherapy. However, the treatment does not work for all children.
Some children with leukemia or neuroblastoma are eligible for immunotherapy. This is the latest type of cancer treatment in which the body's own defense mechanisms are used against cancer. The cancer cells are cleared up, while healthy cells are left alone. This treatment can only be made in clean rooms. These are completely sterile laboratories, staffed by specialized technicians, researchers and quality assurance staff.
To make cell therapy - a type of immunotherapy - on site, the Princess Máxima Center needs its own facility with four clean rooms. Cell therapy could increase the survival rate of children with ALL, with fewer long term side effects.
A game changer for many children
Cell therapy is a relatively new therapy. Researchers at the Princess Máxima Center are working to ensure that more and more children are eligible.
One form of cell therapy, CAR T-cell therapy, has been given to children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) for whom other treatments no longer work since 2019. More than thirty children with ALL have now been treated with CAR-T at the Máxima. Are you curious what this is like? Check out this video with Stef. He has survived leukemia thanks to CAR T-cell therapy.
For the children for whom CAR-T has already worked, this treatment is a game-changer: we can now even cure some seriously ill children with ALL. But CAR T-cell therapy does not yet work well for every child eligible to receive the treatment. Scientists at the Princess Máxima Center are studying whether there is a common denominator among children for whom the therapy does work. They are also investigating whether CAR-T can in future also be used as a treatment for children with a solid tissue tumor or brain tumor.
On top of the research building
In June this year, the starting signal was given for the construction of a sixth and seventh floor on top of the Máxima research building. The cell therapy facility will also be realized there. Adeel Saleem moved from London to manage the new facility. Here, he shares how that is going.
How you can help
If you want to support the campaign, you can start your own fundraiser or donate here. Whether you bake and sell cupcakes, organize a bingo night or set up an online flea market: all fun promotions are welcome. You can view actions of others, or create a personal sponsor page by starting an action and sharing it in your neighborhood or friends Whatsapp group. Also nice: join the action KiKa Korte Broek. Wear your shorts from December 19 to 23 to draw attention to and raise money for children with cancer.
Want to know more about Missie 538? Click here.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of childhood cancer. In the Netherlands, about 110 children are diagnosed with the disease every year. Leukemia develops when lymphocytes, a particular kind of white blood cells, start growing uncontrollably. As a result, there is no space left for the production of healthy blood cells. Leukemia is treated with chemotherapy. However, the treatment does not work for all children.
Some children with leukemia or neuroblastoma are eligible for immunotherapy. This is the latest type of cancer treatment in which the body's own defense mechanisms are used against cancer. The cancer cells are cleared up, while healthy cells are left alone. This treatment can only be made in clean rooms. These are completely sterile laboratories, staffed by specialized technicians, researchers and quality assurance staff.
To make cell therapy - a type of immunotherapy - on site, the Princess Máxima Center needs its own facility with four clean rooms. Cell therapy could increase the survival rate of children with ALL, with fewer long term side effects.
A game changer for many children
Cell therapy is a relatively new therapy. Researchers at the Princess Máxima Center are working to ensure that more and more children are eligible.
One form of cell therapy, CAR T-cell therapy, has been given to children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) for whom other treatments no longer work since 2019. More than thirty children with ALL have now been treated with CAR-T at the Máxima. Are you curious what this is like? Check out this video with Stef. He has survived leukemia thanks to CAR T-cell therapy.
For the children for whom CAR-T has already worked, this treatment is a game-changer: we can now even cure some seriously ill children with ALL. But CAR T-cell therapy does not yet work well for every child eligible to receive the treatment. Scientists at the Princess Máxima Center are studying whether there is a common denominator among children for whom the therapy does work. They are also investigating whether CAR-T can in future also be used as a treatment for children with a solid tissue tumor or brain tumor.
On top of the research building
In June this year, the starting signal was given for the construction of a sixth and seventh floor on top of the Máxima research building. The cell therapy facility will also be realized there. Adeel Saleem moved from London to manage the new facility. Here, he shares how that is going.
How you can help
If you want to support the campaign, you can start your own fundraiser or donate here. Whether you bake and sell cupcakes, organize a bingo night or set up an online flea market: all fun promotions are welcome. You can view actions of others, or create a personal sponsor page by starting an action and sharing it in your neighborhood or friends Whatsapp group. Also nice: join the action KiKa Korte Broek. Wear your shorts from December 19 to 23 to draw attention to and raise money for children with cancer.
Want to know more about Missie 538? Click here.