IPN, INCMNSZ to Develop Cell Therapy for Leukemia, Lymphoma

Researchers from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) and the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition "Salvador Zubirán" (INCMNSZ) formalized an agreement to develop a cell therapy to treat leukemias and lymphomas. The agreement includes academic exchanges, training, the promotion of scientific and clinical research and the creation of biotherapeutic treatments for the benefit of the population.

Cell therapies, which involve the transfer of intact, live cells into a patient to help lessen or cure a disease, have been a research priority among cancer researchers. These techniques can use cells from the patient (autologous cells) or from a donor (allogeneic cells). The type of cells administered depends on the treatment.

A recently approved treatment for leukemia and lymphoma is the Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T (CAR T-Cell) therapy, which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma. It can also be used in patients that do not respond to initial treatments, emerging as hope for many patients with hematological cancers, including various types of lymphoma, leukemia or myeloma for which conventional treatments have had no effect.

While these therapies will be researched by IPN and INCMNSZ, Mexico will not stop providing personalized or high-precision medicine, said David Kershenobich, Former Director General, INCMNSZ. Kershenobich is ending his term as Director General of INCMNSZ, a position he has held since 2012. During his last speech as head of one of the most recognized medical institutes of the region, Kershenobich highlighted some of the main achievements in the 2012-2022 management, which include Consolidating the Outpatient Unit (UPA) project, the Physiotherapy Unit, the Research Unit and the Lactation Unit, among others.

Kershenobich's successor is yet to be determined. The three main candidates are: Gerardo Gamba, Research Director, INCMNSZ; Carlos Arturo Hinojosa, Deputy Director, Clinical Research, INCMNSZ; and José Sifuentes, Medical Director, INCMNSZ.