Overview

• The 17-year-old patient, who relapsed after a 2022 stem cell transplant, received the 800 mCi dose on May 5 and has been discharged cancer-free
• At Rs 7–8 lakh, the treatment costs about one-tenth of anti-GD2 immunotherapy regimens, improving access for families facing steep care expenses
• Approval from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board followed a detailed radiation-safety simulation report and the construction of a specialized ward with 41 hot beds and sealed waste systems
• This inaugural high-dose protocol triples the previous 300 mCi cap and has demonstrated a 25–35% long-term cure rate in high-risk relapsed neuroblastoma
• Long-term follow-up will track patient outcomes and inform expansion of the therapy to other high-risk neuroblastoma cases nationwide