Manipal: 3-Year-Old Girl Successfully Treated for High-Risk Neuroblastoma at Kasturba Hospital
Manipal, March 12, 2025: In a significant medical breakthrough, a three-year-old girl diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer, has successfully undergone life-saving immunotherapy at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. The child received Dinutuximab beta, a recently approved immunotherapy drug that specifically targets neuroblastoma cells, significantly improving survival rates by 30-40%.
High-risk neuroblastoma requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach, including chemotherapy, surgery, bone marrow transplantation, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. While Dinutuximab beta has shown remarkable success, its availability remains a challenge as it must be imported.
The key hurdles in this case were delivering the specialized immunotherapy and securing the necessary funds. Speaking on the development, Dr. Vasudeva Bhat K., Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatric Oncology, stated, “Immunotherapy is the future of pediatric cancer treatment. It not only enhances survival rates but also reduces the side effects of chemotherapy.”
The life-saving treatment was made possible through financial support from multiple foundations, including Save the Dreams, Manipal Foundation, and One Good Step Foundation. Dr. Archana M. V., Associate Professor in the department, highlighted that this was the first successful immunotherapy treatment for neuroblastoma in coastal Karnataka, underscoring the importance of teamwork in achieving such a milestone.
Now, 12 months post-therapy, the child is cancer-free and preparing to start school. Dr. Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital, commended the collaborative efforts of the Pediatric Oncology team, allied cancer specialists, and nursing staff, emphasizing that this achievement offers a ray of hope to pediatric cancer patients across coastal Karnataka and neighboring districts.
