Jipmer successfully treats infant’s brain tumour through stem cell transplant

PUDUCHERRY Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) has successfully treated a six-month-old baby girl with a malignant brain tumour through multidisciplinary care and stem cell transplant. The baby underwent successful surgery, with the neurosurgeons achieving complete removal of the tumour, with the assistance of the neuro-anaesthesia team. The baby hailing from East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh was referred to the institute in early 2025 for specialised treatment of medullablastoma, a malignant brain tumour.

According to a Jipmer press note, radiation therapy is an important component of treatment for medulloblastoma. However, in very young children, radiation to the developing brain can cause significant long-term complications, including neurocognitive and developmental impairment. Considering the child’s extreme young age, the treating team adopted a treatment strategy aimed at avoiding radiation therapy.

She received chemotherapy over the following 12 months as part of this approach.