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Cancer treatment

Vinmec Health System Emerges as a Major Medical Tourism Destination for Cancer Treatment

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Vinmec International Hospital, a leading healthcare provider in Vietnam, has gained international recognition for its innovative approach to cancer treatment using autologous cell-based AIET immunotherapy. This technology, transferred from GN Corporation, Japan, has been implemented in accordance with Japanese regulations and has resulted in significantly extended survival and improved quality of life for cancer patients. Professor Nguyen Thanh Liem, a renowned pediatric surgeon and pioneer in regenerative medicine, has led the effort to bring this technology to Vietnam, achieving remarkable results in clinical trials.

Key Takeaways:

  • Vinmec International Hospital has successfully implemented autologous cell-based AIET immunotherapy for cancer treatment, leveraging patients' own natural killer (NK) cells and T cells.
  • The technology transfer from GN Corporation, Japan, enabled the implementation of standardized AIET protocols, bringing treatment access to patients at Vinmec since 2018.
  • Professor Nguyen Thanh Liem and his team have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of AIET as an adjuvant in combination with standard of care in various cancers, including colorectal, lung, liver, breast, ovarian, thyroid, and head-neck cancers.
  • AIET has resulted in significantly extended survival rates, improved quality of life, and enhanced physical function capacity for patients, with measurable improvements in symptoms such as appetite, insomnia, drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea, depression, fatigue, overall symptom burden, and physical function capacity.
  • AIET causes virtually no side effects, as it uses patients' own cells without any foreign biological materials or feeder layers during cultivation.
  • The treatment protocol involves the collection of 100 ml of patient's peripheral blood, laboratory processing and cultivation over 15-21 days, and intravenous infusion of two doses of NK and T cells, with patients requiring 2-6 cycles, depending on cancer progression and stage.
  • Professor Liem has acknowledged GN Corporation's outstanding interdisciplinary research, yielding cell therapy solutions, being transferred to hospitals and institutes worldwide.

Statistics:

  • Colorectal cancer patients' average survival time increased by 14.3 months.
  • Lung, liver, and other cancers patients' average survival time increased by 18.7 months.
  • Among over 100 patients, including those with late-stage breast, ovarian, thyroid, and head-neck cancers, AIET improved survival rates, enhanced QoL with measurable improvements in symptoms.
  • AIET uses patients' own cells without any foreign biological materials or feeder layers during cultivation.
  • The treatment protocol involves the collection of 100 ml of patient's peripheral blood, laboratory processing and cultivation over 15-21 days, and intravenous infusion of two doses of NK and T cells.

Sources:

  • Businesswire.com: "Vinmec Health System attracts international patients to Vietnam for treatment"
  • Nikkei Asia Prize for Science & Technology
  • Ho Chi Minh Prize
  • Hero of Labor Medal
  • Vietnamese Talent Award
  • Stanford University research group

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