Five-Year-Old Boy with Relapsed Leukemia is Cancer-Free after Haploidentical Bone Marrow Transplant at Kokilaben Hospital, Navi Mumbai
~ Haploidentical bone marrow transplant, led by Consultant Haemato-oncologist Dr. Kunal Goyal, gives a five-year-old boy a second chance at life after his cancer relapsed and doctors elsewhere had run out of treatment options.
Navi Mumbai, September 22, 2026: A five-year-old boy from Ranchi who had been placed on palliative care after his leukemia returned is now in remission, following treatment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai. Led by Consultant Haemato-oncologist Dr. Kunal Goyal, the child’s care combined targeted immunotherapy with a haploidentical (half-matched) bone marrow transplant to bring his cancer under control.
The child was first diagnosed at age five, after his parents noticed bruising on his legs and swelling in his neck. Blood tests led to a diagnosis of Philadelphia chromosome-positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a high-risk form of blood cancer marked by two genetic changes, an IKZF1 mutation and monosomy 7, both associated with poor outcomes.
His previous treatment at other hospitals included multiple rounds of chemotherapy, targeted medicines, and radiation to the brain to keep the cancer from spreading there. Traces of the disease persisted despite months of treatment, and he was put on a more intensive regimen before starting maintenance chemotherapy. After about six months of maintenance treatment, his blood counts dropped sharply. A bone marrow test confirmed that the leukemia had relapsed, and he was placed on palliative care, meaning specialised non-curative care focused on easing symptoms such as pain.
However, his parents did not give up hope. Searching for other options, they brought the child to Dr. Kunal Goyal, Haemato-oncologist, BMT and Cellular Therapies (CAR-T) at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai. Under his care, the child received targeted immunotherapy that brought his disease down to nearly undetectable levels, clearing him for a haploidentical bone marrow transplant using a half-matched family donor.
Dr. Kunal Goyal, Consultant, Haemato-oncologist, BMT and Cellular Therapies (CAR-T) at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai, said, “When the child came to us, his disease had relapsed and his family had been told there was nothing left to try. One can imagine the impact of this on the parents of a five-year-old. Getting him into remission with immunotherapy, and then safely through a haploidentical transplant, took a coordinated effort from our entire multi-speciality team, from the BMT unit to critical care. Seeing him go home healthy is exactly why we do this work.”
Recovery was not without its challenges. The child developed a high fever linked to his weakened immune system and had a severe allergic reaction to a blood transfusion. He also developed respiratory distress and gut infections. Under the expertise of the Paediatric team led by Dr. Shilpa Aroskar, Head – Pediatrics and Neonatology, along with Dr. Goyal, these complications were promptly treated. The child has since recovered and returned home.
Dr. Shilpa Aroskar adds, “Managing childhood leukemia demands expertise, precision and preparedness. Our Paediatric team, working hand-in-hand with the Haematology transplant team at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai, is equipped to take that journey—from advanced therapies like CAR-T to BMT, with one goal – giving every child the best chance at a healthier tomorrow.”
“Stories like this keep inspiring us to bring the best of modern medicine to Navi Mumbai. We have built up world-class bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy capabilities here in Navi Mumbai,” said Dr. Shashikant Pawar, Chief Operating Officer, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai. “We believe that families should never be put in a situation where they run out of options to access the best of care for their child. We will continue to offer advanced treatments like haploidentical transplants and CAR-T therapy, and to invest in the doctors and technology that make outcomes like this possible.”ends GNI
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