Savina, a 14-year-old girl from Russia, has been fighting acute B lymphoblastic leukemia for nearly 8 years. She has undergone multiple courses of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, targeted drugs, antibody drugs, and even two rounds of dual-target CD19/CD22 CAR-T therapy. However, each remission was short-lived, and the disease returned again and again.

In the spring of 2025, Savina experienced a full relapse, accompanied by severe extramedullary lesions and infections. Many believed she had entered the terminal stage, with no chance of recovery.

 

A Difficult Course and a Hard Choice

Before arriving at Beijing GoBroad Boren Hospital, Savina had been through prolonged ICU care and anti-infection supportive treatment, exhausting almost all available medical options. Her organ function, blood counts, and infection control were at their limits.

After multiple online consultations with doctors at Boren Hospital, the team concluded that another attempt at CAR-T cell therapy could be considered. However, due to her fragile physical condition, impaired organ function, and ongoing infections, the treatment carried high risks. Her parents, unwilling to give up, decided to bring her to Boren Hospital for treatment. Their persistence deeply moved everyone and became the turning point in her medical journey.

 

Challenges and Strategies — The Art of Precision and Balance

Upon admission, Savina presented with a heavy tumor burden in both bone marrow and extramedullary sites, as well as an unhealed, infected wound on her leg. The medical team developed a “dual-track” approach:

• Track 1: Provide strong anti-infection therapy and nutritional support to stabilize her overall condition.
• Track 2: Administer blood-count-friendly chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy that could penetrate extramedullary lesions, aiming to control disease progression and gradually reduce tumor load.

During this process, the medical team carried out what could be described as the most comprehensive molecular and cytogenetic testing available internationally. Results revealed that her leukemia cells harbored multiple uncommon fusion genes and a TP53 deletion — crucial findings for guiding precise medication choices and evaluating treatment efficacy.

 

CAR-T Breakthrough and Seamless Transition to Transplant

When the timing was right, the team administered high-quality donor-derived CD19 CAR-T cell infusion. One month later, assessments showed deep remission in her bone marrow, cerebrospinal fluid, and extramedullary lesions, with fusion genes turning negative — paving the way for bridging to transplantation.

GoBroad’s success in achieving CAR-T therapy under such critical conditions was due to several key advantages:

• A mature and stable CAR-T cell preparation and quality control system, ensuring high-activity, high-potency infused cells.
• A clinical team with extensive experience in treating complex cases, able to precisely time treatment by balancing infection control, tumor reduction, and overall condition improvement.
• Tight multidisciplinary collaboration, with CAR-T and transplantation teams engaging early to enable seamless post-remission bridging to transplant.
• Rigorous monitoring and timely complication management before, during, and after CAR-T therapy, ensuring both efficacy and safety.
• Integrated diagnostics and treatment from the clinical and laboratory teams, providing sensitive and specific monitoring indicators for disease status and offering targeted maintenance therapy options for follow-up care. Genetic susceptibility analysis also optimized donor selection.

These factors together formed a solid foundation for successful CAR-T treatment and subsequent therapy.

 

More Than Medicine — A Human Touch

As a foreign patient, Savina faced language and cultural barriers that could cause anxiety. The care team went beyond medical treatment, attending to her and her family’s daily needs: arranging interpreters for key communications, providing dietary suggestions aligned with her eating habits, and using pain-free techniques during wound care and punctures to minimize trauma.

Such meticulous care gradually built a deep trust between the family and the medical team.

 

Continuing Hope

Savina has now smoothly entered the transplantation preparation stage. Her parents have expressed that even if long-term maintenance therapy is needed in the future, they are willing to stay here — not only because of the advanced medical technology, but also because of a team that truly treats patients like family.

We wish Savina the very best in the next stage of her treatment, hoping she will recover soon and embrace the youth and smile that belong to her.

 

65-year-old Mrs. Cai, once a passionate ballroom dancer enjoying her golden years, saw her life upended in January 2025. While the world welcomed the New Year, she received a diagnosis of acute leukemia, casting a dark shadow over her and her family.

Mrs. Cai's condition was complex and progressed rapidly. Even after two rounds of chemotherapy, she failed to reach remission, and her physical condition deteriorated. However, with the steadfast support of her husband, Mr. Wang, she bravely fought the disease. In March 2025, she underwent a haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplant at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital, with her beloved son as the donor. Her 37 days in the sterile transplant ward were filled with uncertainty and challenge, but she emerged successfully, thanks to her resilience and the dedicated medical care. She was discharged the same day. Today, her disease is in complete remission and her health continues to improve.

Mr. Wang, her husband and retired physics teacher with over 40 years of service in education, became her unwavering guardian. Since the diagnosis, he has been by her side every day. He keeps a treatment diary titled "Dialogues with Love," documenting their daily conversations, meticulous caregiving routines, personalized nutrition plans, and fluctuating medical data. He recently wrote a heartfelt thank-you letter to the medical team at Zhaxin, expressing profound gratitude and reflecting on their shared journey. His words are a testament to the enduring love of a couple married for nearly 50 years.

We had the honor of interviewing Mrs. Cai and Mr. Wang. Through their story, we hope to inspire confidence in patients facing similar challenges and provide practical caregiving insights to families.

 

Q: How did Mrs. Cai first show signs of illness? What were your initial reactions upon the leukemia diagnosis?

A: In mid-October 2024, my wife experienced persistent high fever for nine days. Despite four hospital visits, the cause remained unknown. She was eventually hospitalized, where full-body rashes were first misdiagnosed as lupus but later confirmed as erythema nodosum. After treatment, the fever subsided, but swollen lymph nodes were discovered. Initially attributed to infection, further checks revealed mild thrombocytopenia. It wasn't until New Year's Day 2025, during a family dinner, that two doctor friends noticed the persistent lymph node swelling. Concerned, we admitted her to the hematology department mid-January.

Following a series of tests including a bone marrow biopsy, the diagnosis of acute leukemia was confirmed. The news hit me like a bolt from the blue. I was completely overwhelmed, anxious, and fearful. The future, once bright, was instantly thrown into turmoil.

Our son immediately returned from another city. During our urgent search for treatment options, we learned about Dr. Wang Chun's esteemed team at GoBroad Shanghai Zhaxin Hospital. Recognizing the hospital's strong reputation in hematological treatment, we rushed to secure a bed in late January and began treatment.

 

Q: Given her age and unremitted condition, how did you come to decide on an allogeneic transplant?

A: When we arrived, patient services representative Ms. Li Jing helped us settle in quickly. After thorough assessments, my wife was diagnosed with acute mixed phenotype leukemia. Dr. Wang Chun and Dr. Jiang Ying developed a treatment plan and explained the severity of the disease. They issued a critical condition notice and proposed two cycles of chemotherapy followed by evaluation.

Unfortunately, the results were poor. Leukemic cells surged while normal cells couldn't survive. Dr. Wang advised a stem cell transplant, warning that chemotherapy alone would not work. He used a vivid analogy: "You're trying to clear weeds without planting good seeds; weeds just return. Only by introducing new stem cells to build a new immune system can we truly solve the problem."

After thorough research, including speaking with a friend who had undergone a transplant a decade ago, and asking about donor risks (Dr. Wang likened it to a blood donation), we agreed. The donor would be our son. Dr. Wang told us survival rates are just statistics—for each individual, it’s either 0 or 100%. We took the leap.

Post-transplant, the outcome was just as Dr. Wang predicted. During our first follow-up, he warmly greeted us with, "Ah, our friends from Jiangxi!" and smiled after hearing the good test results.

 

Q: What key advice or support did the doctors give you that built your confidence?

A: My wife underwent two rounds of chemotherapy without achieving remission. Facing life-or-death decisions, Dr. Wang and Dr. Jiang carefully explained the benefits and risks of a transplant under such conditions. Their honesty and the promise that "there are no absolutes in medicine, but we will do everything we can" gave us hope.

Dr. Jiang explained every detail of the transplant process and its risks. The transplant ward staff also provided excellent education about hygiene, nutrition, and daily life. On the day we moved into the transplant ward, Dr. Huixia LIU reassured me: "Leave her to me. If I don't call, that means everything is fine."

Even though I couldn't see the medical staff in the BMT unit, my wife shared that Dr. Liu visited daily, always smiling and saying, "Here I am." Dr. Liu was meticulous in addressing every detail—from rejection prevention to meal planning. Under their care, my wife felt safe, free of panic or anxiety.

The most unforgettable moment came on April 10. Dr. Liu casually mentioned, "I'm planning to wrap this up all at once. She can be discharged on April 17." We were overwhelmed with joy. We expected a long fight, but the team delivered an early victory.

At our first outpatient visit after discharge, Dr. Liu, who also practices traditional Chinese medicine, praised my wife's recovery. With her herbal treatments, my wife’s sleep and appetite improved greatly. We believe that integrating TCM and modern medicine offers a more holistic healing approach.

 

Q: You diligently recorded every detail of her treatment. What motivated you to do this?

A: I titled my journal "Dialogues with Love." That "love" reflects nearly 50 years together—from courtship to marriage, and now fighting illness. Love permeates every corner of our home.

My habit of detailed documentation began in youth. We have 484 original love letters, now digitized. We often reread them for comfort. I also compiled yearly teaching portfolios and hundreds of academic papers. This habit shaped my teaching career and our life.

Recording our journey is a way of cherishing life. In health, it was a lifestyle; in illness, it became a way to find meaning. Life isn’t about length but quality. Facing disease should not bring fear. Remember: each step forward brings us closer to recovery. Sometimes, mental strength is more powerful than medicine.

 

Q: What would you say to families facing similar challenges?

A: Caring for a sick loved one is incredibly demanding. Since my wife's diagnosis, I have been her full-time caregiver, despite my own health issues—including two heart surgeries. I structured my days, kept my mind active through writing, and avoided falling into despair.

In front of my wife, I never showed worry. I only gave her positive energy.

Caregivers should focus on three things:

1. Encouragement: Teach the patient to never give up and believe in recovery.
2. Emotion: Create a joyful and hopeful atmosphere.
3. Attention to Detail: Especially in nutrition and daily care.

I believe love is the most powerful medicine. A simple "because I love you" can soothe the soul more than any pill. This love carried us through the darkest times.

 

Expert Commentary

Dr. Huixia LIU:

The patient was diagnosed with acute mixed phenotype leukemia, presenting with widespread lymphadenopathy and aggressive disease progression. After two unsuccessful rounds of induction chemotherapy, the disease continued advancing. With the family placing their trust in our transplant team, we proceeded with salvage haploidentical transplant using a personalized conditioning regimen centered around TBI and venetoclax. The transplant succeeded without significant complications. Traditional Chinese medicine also alleviated the patient's chronic insomnia. As of two months post-transplant, the patient is stable and recovering well at home.

 

VARELII is an acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia patient from Russia. The news of a relapse after his second transplant left him in despair for a while, and the local hospital in Russia thought he had almost no chance of being cured.

But VARELII didn't give up, through many aspects of understanding and research, he contacted the team of Director Zhao Defeng of Beijing GoBroad Boren Hospital, who accepted VARELII after sufficient communication and comprehensive evaluation in the early stage. “I thought I would be rejected for admission, but the team of Director Zhao accepted me and gave me the motivation to have a positive treatment. ” With the last glimmer of hope, accompanied by his wife, VARELII traveled thousands of miles to receive CAR-T treatment.

After VARELII came to Boren Hospital, he first received a comprehensive examination and test. After the test, it was found that there was not only bone marrow recurrence, but also tumor cells in the cerebrospinal fluid, which was actually a state of bone marrow recurrence combined with central recurrence, and the condition was very critical. Moreover, the gene BCR-ABL1 was found in this examination, which was not found at the onset of the patient's disease. Boren Hospital has laid a solid foundation for the patient's personalized treatment plan by integrating the diagnosis through precise genetic testing.

“The patient came in very weak, with anemia, low platelets, and high tumor load, plus having already undergone two transplants, he was under tremendous stress, both physically and psychologically.” Director Zhao Defeng's team first communicated with the patient, indicating that there was hope that the disease could reach remission through CAR-T cell therapy. The team gave the patient confidence in the treatment and then formulated a personalized treatment plan based on the patient's status.

The medical team chose the first target to use donor-sourced cells to prepare CD19 CAR-T cells for treatment, and the overall infusion back process was relatively smooth, although there was still cytokine release syndrome (CRS), with symptoms of fever and rash, but with the medication, the side-effects were quickly and effectively controlled.

 “After the second relapse in Russia, my heart was very heavy, through this period of treatment and communication with Director Zhao's team, my confidence was slowly restored, and the actual treatment effect was also very good, thanks to all those who helped me, so that a person who had lost hope, had the hope to live again.” VARELII said.

 Before being discharged from the hospital, VARELII's bone puncture results showed that his bone marrow had reached deep remission, with a gene of 0. The lumbar puncture results showed that the tumor cells in the cerebrospinal fluid had also dissipated, and the white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets had basically returned to normal, with the disease reaching a very good state of complete remission.

In order to show their gratitude, VARELII and his wife specially customized a silk banner and personally gave it to Director Zhao Defeng's team before they were discharged from the hospital, “The whole treatment process moved me a lot, thanks to Boren Hospital and Director Zhao's team, which enabled me to start working and living again, and I hope that I can bring my family to China for a trip next time, instead of treating the disease any more! ” VARELII is looking forward to the future.

On September 13, after more than 100 days of careful treatment by doctors of GoBroad Transplantation Center, Mr. Sun (a pseudonym), a patient with acute myeloid leukemia, was successfully discharged from the hospital. At the age of 73, Mr. Sun set a new record for the oldest allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient in the transplant team, as well as in the hospital.

At the beginning of this year, Mr. Sun always felt foot pain, body weakness, appetite is also much worse. In the following month, Mr. Sun's symptoms worsened, with foot pain that made it difficult to walk, inability to eat, abdominal distension and irritability. Unable to tolerate the discomfort, Mr. Sun decided to go to the hospital for further evaluation. Routine blood and bone marrow tests revealed that Mr. Sun most likely had leukemia.

On May 3, Sun arrived at Beijing GoBroad Boren Hospital accompanied by his family. Although it was a holiday, Mr. Sun went through the admission process smoothly under the coordination of Wu Tong, Director of the Transplant Center.

Leukemia MICM typing is very important, which helps to determine the type of leukemia, formulate the appropriate treatment plan, and monitor the effect of treatment. After further extensive testing, Sun was finally diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia with bZIP, CEBPA, CSF3R and NRAS mutations. After 3 rounds of chemotherapy, Sun's condition went into complete remission.

However, the disease was more cunning than expected, and during the subsequent consolidation phase, Mr. Sun was found to have 0.02% suspicious primitive myeloid cells in MRD during a routine examination. This meant that he had to undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Mr. Sun's age was a major hurdle for the transplant. In general, transplantation for elderly patients is more difficult and risky than for normal patients. To ensure the best treatment outcome, the medical team conducted a thorough pre-transplant evaluation and assessment of Sun and carefully designed a reduced-intensity pre-treatment program that best suited his needs.

On July 22-23, Mr. Sun was successfully infused with his son's hematopoietic stem cells. 11 days after the transplantation, platelets were viable, and 14 days after the transplantation, neutrophils were viable, and hematopoietic reconstruction was successful. By September, Mr. Sun's condition was stable and he was discharged from the hospital.

Mr. Sun is especially grateful to the hospital and the medical team for their professional treatment and careful care. He said, "It's the right time to come to the hospital!" He is also very grateful to his family for their companionship and support. Since his illness, his family has been with him all the time, from financial support, spiritual encouragement, physical care to the details of his life, they have taken care of Sun without reservation and in every detail, which also inspired his courage and strength to overcome the illness. Sun's wife was a head nurse at the hospital before she retired, with rich medical and nursing experience, and he was able to be discharged from the hospital without her meticulous care. Although he cannot return to his hometown for the time being, Mr. Sun still feels very happy to have crossed the "line between life and death," and he said that what he wants most at the moment is to have a family reunion.

The patient was a 34-year-old Pakistani man and father of two. He was life-threatened due to acute b-lymphocytic leukemia in 2023. He had poor response to 5 periods of chemotherapy locally and rapidly deteriorated, so he was recommended CAR-T cell therapy. In January 2023, the patient came to GHG medical center and immediately started debulking chemotherapy because the bone marrow examination showed a very high proportion of tumor cells. CD19-CAR-T cell refusion was performed after the proportion of tumor cells was reduced to 0%.

During the treatment, the patient experienced acute cytokine release syndrome(CRS), but uneventfully passed the critical period under immediate treatment. After 14 days of CAR-T therapy, the proportion of tumor cells was successfully reduced to 0%, the patient improved significantly and was discharged uneventfully in February 2024.

Anan, a girl, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2014 when she was 4 years old,and her condition was stable after multiple courses of chemotherapy for more than 3 years.The patient achieved a response after CAR-T therapy in 2020. She came to GHG medical center for further diagnosis and treatment due to a second relapse of leukemia in 2021.

After reviewing Anan's past medical history and various examination reports, the team proposed chemotherapy first and completed lumbar puncture+intrathecal injection targeting a stable condition. After her condition was initially stable, the team proposed a sequential CAR-T therapy program. The doctor's rich treatment experience and logically clear treatment thoughts gave Anan's family confidence.

She achieved a very good response after CAR-T therapy. Although the effect of CAR-T therapy was currently very good, the team recommended seizing the opportunity to bridge allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant after CAR-T therapy according to the latest clinical research and comprehensive judgment of her condition and explained the new program of TDH in detail. Compared with other transplant programs, TDH had lower requirements for donor matching, faster recovery and fewer complications, especially the success rate of transplant, which gave her family great confidence. After the transplant, both Anan's indicators and mental status were very good. After more than 9 years of fighting with leukemia by chemotherapy, CAR-T, and bridging to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant after CAR-T therapy, Anan also began to look forward to returning to school after recovery.

Ming was a girl, who was only 1 month old in 2019 and was hospitalized and diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia(PTPN11 mutation) after a series of examinations. Ming's parents searched the GoBroad team's report on JMML and the higher cure rate at the 2019 American Society of Hematology(ASH) on the Internet, and then quickly brought Ming to GHG medical center.

Given that Ming was only 2 months old, the GHG medial team recommended first oral targeted drugs targeting a stable condition, chemotherapy after a little older, and hematopoietic stem cell transplant after 1 year old. Ming's condition quickly became stable after medication. Fortunately, a fully matched donor was found in the Taiwan Bone Marrow Bank when Ming was one and a half years old. In November 2020, Ming received the transplant uneventfully. Now Ming is 5 years old and goes to kindergarten like normal children, goes out with friends to play sand and eat buffet… Except that her height and weight are slightly lower than her peers, her language, intelligence, communication and movement are all normal.

Linlin, a 13-year-old girl, was diagnosed with acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia in 2018. However, she had no response to multiple courses of chemotherapy. She received the first hematopoietic stem cell transplant in her hometown in October 2019. Unfortunately, her leukemia relapsed in October 2020.

Linlin came to GHG medial center with her parents for further treatment in 2021. She was recommended to first receive CAR-T treatment, followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplant after careful evaluation by GHG medical team. Accompanied by the GHG team, she successfully received CAR-T therapy and the second hematopoietic stem cell transplant. She went through difficulties including nausea, vomiting, fever, and rejection and was discharged from the hospital. More than two years have passed since the second transplant, and there have been no other serious post-transplant complications. Linlin said happily, "The sky in Beijing is so blue." when she walked out from GHG medial center because she had a good re-examination recently.

Chengcheng,a 6-year-old boy,was diagnosed with acute B lymphoblastic leukemia in 2015,and he has been treated in a local hospital for several years since then.In the meantime,his condition was effectively controlled.Unfortunately,his leukemia relapsed in May 2021.Chengcheng's mother brought him to GHG medial center from his hometown in Northeast China in November 2021.

The GHG medical team first arranged a comprehensive and systematic examination for him and then developed a standardized and personalized therapeutic regimen.The treatment went smoothly,and his condition was relieved quickly after the sequential treatment of CD19 CAR-T and CD22 CAR-T.At present,Cheng has discontinued most of his medications and lived a peaceful and hopeful life."The chief,the doctors and the nurses are very nice!They are always kind to help us solve problems.Thanks so much for them!I'm glad we chose to go to Beijing for treatment at that time."Chengcheng's mother said.Her tone was full of gratitude when mentioning the GHG team.

Xiaoxiao was diagnosed with acute B cell-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in her hometown in 2017 at the age of 24 years old.Her condition did not improve after a period of chemotherapy in the local hospital.She visited GHG medial center for further treatment at the recommendation of her local doctor.The GHG medial team developed a personalized treatment plan for Xiaoxiao.She successively received CD19 CAR-T and CD22 CAR-T cell therapies,both of which achieved good response.

Now,more than six years from her diagnosis of B-ALL has passed.When she came here for re-examination,she brought good news-Xiaoxiao became a mother!She shared pictures of her child with doctors and said with a smile,"I hope he can live a healthy,safe and happy life."

In 2017,Lili was diagnosed with acute B lymphoblastic leukemia,positive BCR/ABL fusion gene,positive IKZF1 gene mutation,and E255K/V mutation in ABL kinase region at the age of 34 years old.After nearly one year of the combined treatment of targeted drug with chemotherapy in another hospital,the marrow cell morphology was CR and MRD was negative;She underwent haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant,but the disease relapsed with T315I mutation just four months after transplant.

Lili came to GHG medial center in 2019,and her condition deteriorated and both lungs were infected at that time.The GHG medial team immediately developed the treatment plan.Treatments including anti-infection,and blood transfusion support were provided together with chemotherapy with targeted drugs to reduce the burden of leukemia.One month later,Lili's general condition was improved,the re-examination of lung CT showed improvement,and symptoms including cough and expectoration disappeared;After the informed consent of her family,murine CD19 CAR-T cells were infused successfully.Only half a month after infusion,the marrow morphology was evaluated as CR,MRD turned negative,and BCR/ABL(p190)quantification result was 0%.Lili and her family were relieved and she was discharged full of happiness.In the follow-up and re-examination afterward,Lili's condition was still in a continuous remission state,and she returned to society and family again upon CAR-T cell therapy.