In rare case, scientists link boy’s tumor to gene therapy viruses
statnews.com • • health
Key Points:
- Thirteen-month-old Adam, born with a rare life-threatening disease, underwent a stem cell transplant that ultimately failed, leaving doctors to choose between a risky second transplant or an experimental gene therapy.
- Adam's parents opted for the gene therapy after witnessing the severe complications from the first transplant, and the treatment initially led to significant developmental progress, including learning sign language and reading.
- Despite these improvements, a routine scan last year revealed a golf-ball-sized brain tumor, raising new concerns about Adam's health and the long-term effects of the gene therapy.