May 8, 2018
Ground-breaking Canadian Research: Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Transplant in Multiple Myeloma
On May 8, a myeloma research news article on umbilical cord stem cell transplant in multiple myeloma was featured in Montreal-based newspaper “La Presse Plus”. A great review showcasing the work of Dr Jean Roy from Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, and Principal Investigator of the innovative clinical trial “ECT-001 (UM171) Expanded Cord Blood Transplant to Treat High-risk Multiple Myeloma”, Dr Guy Sauvageau from Université de Montréal. The molecule, discovered by Dr Sauvageau, has successfully increased the number of stem cells contained in the umbilical cord by 30 to 50 times, making umbilical cord stem cell transplants a new treatment possibility for adults living with myeloma. This breakthrough provides with us hope for a higher success rate for patients receiving a third-party donor stem cell transplant (allogeneic stem cell transplant). Currently, there are 10 patients participating in this study,
Kudos to the team of Canadian researchers at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (an important partner of the Université de Montréal Myeloma Canada Chair on multiple myeloma), for making their mark on the international myeloma treatment landscape and for making waves in improving patient outcomes.