This is the only equipment of its kind in Poland designed for small patients for the in-depth diagnosis of oncological and haematological diseases.
Today, the AURORA spectral cytometer was presented at the Clinical Hospital No. 1 of the Medical University of Silesia in Zabrze, which is the most modern equipment used for in-depth diagnostics of oncological and haematological diseases in children. As a result, specialists from the Immunology Laboratory in Zabrze now have in their hands a tool that equips the most highly regarded diagnostic and research centres in the world. The AURORA spectral cytometer, manufactured by CYTEK Bioscience, is used to analyse patients' bone marrow in the following areas: diagnosis of leukaemias and lymphomas, monitoring of the treatment process, determination of prognosis and, indirectly, clarification of their causes. Funds for the purchase of the equipment, worth PLN 1,200,000, were raised by the ISKIERKA Foundation, thanks to the support of donors.
The Immunology Laboratory operates at the Department of Paediatrics, Haematology and Paediatric Oncology of the Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 1 of the Medical University of Silesia, which is headed by Professor Tomasz Szczepański, an outstanding haematologist and rector of the SUM. The main field of activity of this unique facility is the use of flow cytometry technique flow cytometry technique for the diagnosis of malignant diseases in children, mainly acute leukaemia, but also lymphoma, neuroblastoma or soft tissue sarcoma. Since 2009, the Immunology Laboratory has been the reference centre for monitoring so-called minimal residual disease (MRD) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
Each year, approximately 250 cases of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) are diagnosed in Poland. Bone marrow samples are sent to Zabrze (Immunology Laboratory there) from all Polish haematooncology centres in order to quantify the response to the implemented treatment. This is expressed as the MRD level, i.e. the percentage of leukaemic cells surviving treatment. This information is used to decide whether to classify sick children into an appropriate risk group and thus reduce or intensify the treatment process. Accurate determination of MRD is also important in further phases of therapy, such as when deciding on bone marrow transplantation.
- We are extremely happy that a spectral cytometer will soon be in operation in our laboratory. On the one hand, it is a new-generation instrument which will serve for better diagnosis of acute leukaemia in children, both in our patients treated in the clinic here, but also for children from all over Poland who are in the clinical trial - the CALL-POL treatment protocol, and also for children from Ukraine, more and more of whom are being treated in our hospitals. On the other hand, this state-of-the-art equipment will be used entirely for paediatrics and we will be looking into immune testing, both in children after cancer treatment and, over time, in other patients. The equipment offers new possibilities and we are happy to be able to use it," emphasises Professor Tomasz Szczepański, MD, Head of the Department of Paediatrics, Haematology and Paediatric Oncology at SUM, President of the Polish Society of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology.
In order to further advance the Immunology Laboratory as a reference centre, equipment that enables the determination of MRD levels at the highest level of sensitivity is essential. This is made possible by the Aurora spectral cytometer, which enables the simultaneous assessment of more than 20 markers on a single tumour cell.
- This higher number of markers translates into a higher level of sensitivity in detecting tumour cells compared to previously used methods based on 8-10 markers. When monitoring residual disease, it is important to distinguish tumour cells from normal cells as accurately as possible, and as a reference centre, the Immunology Laboratory in Zabrze must have state-of-the-art equipment. The further expansion of the cytometer with a further 2 lasers will enable the assessment of more than 30 markers simultaneously, making it a tool for very advanced studies of so-called immunomonitoring. This latter research will be a new field of scientific activity for the Zabrze Laboratory, and its results will be important for children after leukaemia treatment, as well as for children with immune disorders. It is only thanks to this innovative cytometer that the Zabrze Centre will be able to join the European centres engaged in such research, which will significantly affect its scientific development," explains Łukasz Sędek, MD, PhD, assistant professor of research and teaching in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, SUM.
The addition of the Immunology Laboratory is a tremendous opportunity for paediatric oncology and haematology patients, including those who ended up in Polish hospitals as a result of the warfare in Ukraine.
- As a patient organisation, we are constantly working to increase the chances of our charges in the treatment process. One such area is to constantly improve the quality of diagnostics for paediatric oncology patients, which is possible thanks to, among other things, the work of specialists from the Immunology Laboratory in Zabrze, led by Professor Tomasz Szczepański. The AURORA spectral cytometer, which will now support their work, is a huge step forward to better respond to the needs of our patients. It will be the second such instrument in Poland, and the first designed for children. In addition, the equipment will also be used for Ukrainian patients, blurring all boundaries in the fight for children's health," informs Jolanta Czernicka - Siwecka, President of the ISKIERKA Foundation.
The Zabrze centre is a member of the international research consortium EuroFlow, which consists of more than 20 research groups, experts in flow cytometry and molecular diagnostics, working together to raise the quality and standards of treatment internationally.
Retrofitting of the Immunology Laboratory is a great opportunity for paediatric oncology and haematology patients, including those who ended up in Polish hospitals as a result of the war in Ukraine.
- As a patient organisation, we are constantly working to increase the chances of our charges in the treatment process. One such area is to constantly improve the quality of diagnostics for paediatric oncology patients, which is possible thanks to, among other things, the work of specialists from the Immunology Laboratory in Zabrze, led by Professor Tomasz Szczepański. The AURORA spectral cytometer, which will now support their work, is a huge step forward to better respond to the needs of our patients. It will be the second such instrument in Poland, and the first designed for children. In addition, the equipment will also be used for Ukrainian patients, blurring all boundaries in the fight for children's health," informs Jolanta Czernicka - Siwecka, President of the ISKIERKA Foundation.
The Zabrze centre is a member of the international research consortium EuroFlow, which consists of more than 20 research groups, experts in flow cytometry and molecular diagnostics, working together to raise the quality and standards of treatment internationally.
The ISKIERKA Foundation has been financially supporting the scientific activities of doctors at Zabrze Hospital since 2009. At that time, a scientific and research project entitled "Monitoring of minimal residual disease" was selected and positively evaluated by the then national consultant for paediatric oncology and haematology, Prof. Dr. Jerzy R. Kowalczyk, through a competition. "Monitoring of minimal residual disease in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) by 8-colour flow cytometry". Since its inception, its principal investigator has been Prof. Tomasz Szczepański, MD, PhD. n. med. Tomasz Szczepański. It has laid the foundations for modern monitoring for children withacute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) from all over Poland. To date, the foundation has donated a total of more than PLN 720,000 for this purpose.
The ISKIERKA Foundation is a Polish non-profit organisation that has been working for children with cancer and their families since 2006. It permanently takes care of wards from 4 children's oncology centres (Chorzów, Katowice, Rzeszów and Zabrze). The foundation takes care of more than 700 wards, who are in the process of intensive treatment, as well as at the stage of later convalescence and rehabilitation. It runs therapeutic projects (art therapy in hospital wards), integration projects (balls, picnics, holiday trips), buys medicines, renovates and equips wards with medical equipment, provides psychological and dietetic support. It publishes guides on the disease, dietetics ("JedzONKO" series) or psychological support ("ONKOPORADNIK" on YouTube and in the form of podcasts). To make it easier for carers to access the most important information, it has launched a knowledge portal for parents onkorodzice.pl. It shows families how to cope when a child's illness enters their lives. How a traumatic experience can be turned into constructive action. Find out more at fundacjaiskierka.pl
