The Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) has successfully performed the UAE’s first ovarian preservation procedure on a 7-year-old Emirati patient diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, in collaboration with ART Fertility Clinic. This breakthrough reflects ADSCC’s commitment to keeping patient outcomes and quality of life at the heart of innovative care and advanced paediatric oncology care. The success of this procedure contributes to the Emirate’s continuous healthcare milestones, further strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a leader in healthcare globally.
The young patient, battling a relapsed and refractory form of leukaemia, faced a challenging medical journey after her disease proved resistant to initial chemotherapy and conventional treatments. Her condition later stabilised with targeted therapy. To ensure a definitive cure, ADSCC’s paediatric haematologists determined a bone marrow transplant was needed, with the patient’s half-matched brother serving as the donor.
Recognising the potential fertility risks associated with the high-dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation required for the transplant, ADSCC medical experts, with the consent of the patient’s parents, proactively opted for ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) in collaboration with ART Fertility Clinic. In a surgical procedure, the ovary of the young girl was removed and transferred to ART Fertility Clinic in Abu Dhabi for processing and preservation. This advanced process involved cutting the ovarian tissue into thin strips, which were then treated with cryoprotective agents to protect the cells from damage during the freezing process. The tissue is then slowly cooled and stored at very low temperatures, typically in liquid nitrogen at around -196°C (-320.8°F) for at least 20 years, with the potential for future reimplantation to restore the patient’s fertility. OTC represents one of the latest techniques worldwide that offers promising potential for preserving fertility in the future if the ovaries are affected by chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Dr. Rashid Obaid Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of the Healthcare Workforce Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), said, “Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector has made significant strides in enhancing the health and well-being of the Emirate’s community and beyond,” adding that the sector’s pioneering strategies, advanced infrastructure and talented workforce enabled the achievement of remarkable milestones such as the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) latest accomplishment.
Dr. Maysoon Al Karam, Chief Medical Officer at Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre, said, “This incredible milestone not only represents the advancements in paediatric oncology and fertility preservation but also aligns with our vision to lead in cutting-edge medical practices and patient-centred care within our Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Programme (AD-BMT). By providing our paediatric cancer patients with fertility preservation options as they grow older, such as ovarian cryopreservation, we are offering solutions for female cancer patients, both pre- and post-puberty, whose treatments may impact future fertility. Additionally, for post-puberty male patients, we continue to explore alternative options while scientific studies advance our understanding of suitable solutions for pre-puberty male patients.”
