The power of Personalized Medicine
The Medical City introduces breakthrough medicine and how actress Liezl Martinez survives cancer through this
By Nickky Faustine P. De Guzman
Published: July 23, 2013
The IPMM, at the newly-renovated 12th floor of the Nursing Tower, the Medical City, houses an out-patient clinic with consultation and treatment facilities, as well as modern in-patient rooms.
Our bodies have the power to heal themselves --- this is the inspiration behind Regenerative Medicine. However, it does not mean that we no longer need medical intervention. And for some, personalized, tailor-fit treatments may be most suitable.
With this in mind, the Medical City introduces a breakthrough in molecular medicine with its Institute of Personalized Molecular Medicine (IPMM), which offers a range of clinical and laboratory services in molecular and cellular levels.
“Personalized Molecular Medicine holds on to the belief that each patient is unique and has (his or her) own genetic make-up and history. This means that no two patients with the same disease must undergo the same, default treatment. The potential benefits of personalized molecular medicine include prevention, early detection, and optimized treatment,” IPMM consultant and adviser Dr. Samuel D. Bernal says.
IPMM depends on Regenerative Medicine, or the engineering of cells and other biomaterials to prevent disease and maintain wellness. It restores or replaces the structure and function of damaged tissues and organs by harnessing the body’s ability to heal itself.
IPMM includes stem cell transplant, molecular profiling, individualized chemotherapy, and umbilical cord services.
Stem cell transplant refers to the infusion of healthy cells into the patient’s body. The stem cells used are from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood. It does not use aborted fetal cells, embryonic stem cells, or animal stem cells that are believed to have caused the death of three Filipino solons.
“The uses of stem cell for cancer are already well-established; that is stem cell from the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord. And for many types of cancer, it is curative; in fact, in the instances of leukemia, lymphoma, or even multiple myeloma, it is the only hope, because chemotherapy by itself does not,” Bernal adds.
He also says that the best way to cure cancer is through the alternating combination of stem cell therapy and chemotherapy. This world-renowned cancer specialist and molecular biologist is a cancer survivor himself and is currently the Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of California-Los Angeles.
Molecular profiling, another IPMM service, meanwhile identifies genes that help in predicting a patient’s response to treatments. This is solely designed for cancer tissues hence, for cancer patients only. The results from the molecular profiling will be administered by doctors through individualized chemotherapy, where the most effective chemotherapeutic agents will be selected. The umbilical cord services include the collection, processing, expansion, and storage of the whole umbilical cord and cord blood as rich future source of stem cells.
Cancer survivor shares story
Cancer warrior, survivor, and actress Anna-Lissa “Liezl” Martinez was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 3 in 2008. She had chemotherapy and as a result, lost her hair, which devastated her. She survived the disease. However, three years after, the cancer recurred and metastasized to her left lung.
She then decided to have stem cell therapy and chemotherapy with molecular profiling, which Dr. Bernal suggested. Understanding the unique biomarkers found in patients’ tumors can give them the option to forgo undergoing cancer treatments that are less likely to be that effective. This approach spares healthy cells and thus has less severe side effects.
The alternating combination of chemotherapy and stem cell therapy is the most effective way of curing Liezl’s disease. She went to full remission, the period where the symptoms of the disease have subsided, after her fifth chemotherapy and sixth stem cell injection. Because of the combination treatments, Liezl didn’t lose her crowning glory, unlike her previous experience that was sans the stem cell therapy. Looking younger and feeling more energetic is actually one of the effects of undergoing stem cell treatment.
“When you think about it, you might say that it’s just hair. But I didn’t want to lose my hair again, so I’m very thankful for the stem cell therapy and chemotherapy with molecular profiling,” Liezl says.
Now, she is enjoying her life and have become daring enough to cross out some items in her bucket list that includes bungee jumping and scuba diving.
The Medical City is one of the pioneers in Regenerative Medicine; it has been practiced in the country since 2004. For more information, visit www.themedicalcity.com.
With this in mind, the Medical City introduces a breakthrough in molecular medicine with its Institute of Personalized Molecular Medicine (IPMM), which offers a range of clinical and laboratory services in molecular and cellular levels.
“Personalized Molecular Medicine holds on to the belief that each patient is unique and has (his or her) own genetic make-up and history. This means that no two patients with the same disease must undergo the same, default treatment. The potential benefits of personalized molecular medicine include prevention, early detection, and optimized treatment,” IPMM consultant and adviser Dr. Samuel D. Bernal says.
IPMM depends on Regenerative Medicine, or the engineering of cells and other biomaterials to prevent disease and maintain wellness. It restores or replaces the structure and function of damaged tissues and organs by harnessing the body’s ability to heal itself.
IPMM includes stem cell transplant, molecular profiling, individualized chemotherapy, and umbilical cord services.
Stem cell transplant refers to the infusion of healthy cells into the patient’s body. The stem cells used are from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord blood. It does not use aborted fetal cells, embryonic stem cells, or animal stem cells that are believed to have caused the death of three Filipino solons.
“The uses of stem cell for cancer are already well-established; that is stem cell from the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord. And for many types of cancer, it is curative; in fact, in the instances of leukemia, lymphoma, or even multiple myeloma, it is the only hope, because chemotherapy by itself does not,” Bernal adds.
He also says that the best way to cure cancer is through the alternating combination of stem cell therapy and chemotherapy. This world-renowned cancer specialist and molecular biologist is a cancer survivor himself and is currently the Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of California-Los Angeles.
Molecular profiling, another IPMM service, meanwhile identifies genes that help in predicting a patient’s response to treatments. This is solely designed for cancer tissues hence, for cancer patients only. The results from the molecular profiling will be administered by doctors through individualized chemotherapy, where the most effective chemotherapeutic agents will be selected. The umbilical cord services include the collection, processing, expansion, and storage of the whole umbilical cord and cord blood as rich future source of stem cells.
Cancer survivor shares story
Cancer warrior, survivor, and actress Anna-Lissa “Liezl” Martinez was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 3 in 2008. She had chemotherapy and as a result, lost her hair, which devastated her. She survived the disease. However, three years after, the cancer recurred and metastasized to her left lung.
She then decided to have stem cell therapy and chemotherapy with molecular profiling, which Dr. Bernal suggested. Understanding the unique biomarkers found in patients’ tumors can give them the option to forgo undergoing cancer treatments that are less likely to be that effective. This approach spares healthy cells and thus has less severe side effects.
The alternating combination of chemotherapy and stem cell therapy is the most effective way of curing Liezl’s disease. She went to full remission, the period where the symptoms of the disease have subsided, after her fifth chemotherapy and sixth stem cell injection. Because of the combination treatments, Liezl didn’t lose her crowning glory, unlike her previous experience that was sans the stem cell therapy. Looking younger and feeling more energetic is actually one of the effects of undergoing stem cell treatment.
“When you think about it, you might say that it’s just hair. But I didn’t want to lose my hair again, so I’m very thankful for the stem cell therapy and chemotherapy with molecular profiling,” Liezl says.
Now, she is enjoying her life and have become daring enough to cross out some items in her bucket list that includes bungee jumping and scuba diving.
The Medical City is one of the pioneers in Regenerative Medicine; it has been practiced in the country since 2004. For more information, visit www.themedicalcity.com.
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