Vietnamese doctor introduces new blood cancer treatment technology in home country

After nearly 20 years of research and exposure to advances in medical science in Germany, Dr. Le Duc Dung has sought to transfer leukemia treatment technologies to Vietnam. Dr. Le Duc Dung heads a research group specializing in leukemia at Wuerzburg University Hospital in Germany. Through his work in the biomedical field, he has been exposed to new cancer treatment methods, particularly immunotherapy methods. The goal of modern cancer treatment methods is to turn cancer from acute, malignant to chronic or completely cured, thereby prolonging the patient’s life, as Mr. Dung shared.

In immunotherapy to treat leukemia, there are three main methods including bispecific antibodies, CAR-T cells, and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Bispecific antibodies use artificial antibodies to simultaneously bind cancer cells to immune cells such as T cells, helping immune cells identify and destroy cancer cells effectively. CAR-T is a gene-editing therapy for T cells to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that enhances the recognition and destruction of cancer cells. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is a therapy that replaces a patient’s bone marrow with healthy hematopoietic stem cells from a donor.

These anti-cancer immunotherapy methods have shown high effectiveness and have been tested on many leukemia patients in Germany. Dr. Dung is determined to introduce modern immunotherapy methods to Vietnamese hospitals. He began planning to connect and transfer technology to treat leukemia in 2018. Initially, he organized online meetings with professors at Wuerzburg University Hospital and Vietnamese hospitals. In March 2023, German medical experts led by Professor Einsele and Professor Schlegel visited Vietnam and exchanged training plans and transferred new cancer treatment methods.

In July 2023, Dr. Dung facilitated a delegation visit to the Wuerzburg University Hospital in Germany. The two sides signed an official memorandum of cooperation between the two countries to transfer German cancer treatment technology to Vietnam. All three key methods of immunotherapy, including bispecific antibodies, CAR-T cells, and allogeneic bone marrow transplant, are gradually being transferred. Dr. Dung acknowledges the challenges in applying modern treatment technologies due to the need for scientific support and a qualified force of doctors with the necessary knowledge and experience.

Despite the difficulties, Dr. Le Duc Dung is determined to promote cooperation between German and Vietnamese healthcare to bridge the gap. He believes that with effort and commitment, the advancements in medical science can be transferred successfully. Dr. Le Duc Dung, born in Nghe An, Vietnam, graduated from Leibniz University Hannover in Germany and studied for a doctorate in molecular medicine at Hannover Medical University and Saarland University Hospital.