MAHAK Activities by March 2024

Oncology Department

MAHAK Hospital has four inpatient oncology wards dedicated to the treatment of children with cancer. These wards are staffed and supervised by six specialized hematologists-oncologists and other health care teams. The oncology clinics hosts and registered almost 40 patients on a daily basis.

Specialists at MAHAK Hospital take various measures to improve the treatment of children. Some of these measures include:

• Routine Tumor Board meetings have been held weekly and monthly at MAHAK Hospital since 2019. These meetings are conducted internally within the organization and also involve collaboration with other international tumor boards. This sessions will give the chance of receiving valuable insights and expertise in reviewing cases of brain tumors.

The outcomes of these meetings are:

1. Conducting regular medical research and clinical trials to develop new treatment methods and improve existing ones.

2. Providing specialized training programs for healthcare professionals to enhance their skills in pediatric care and cancer treatment.

3. Collaborating with international medical centers and experts to exchange knowledge and expertise in the field of Neuro oncology.

4. Utilizing advanced technologies, such as precision medicine and targeted therapies, to tailor treatments specifically for each child’s unique condition.

5. Implementing comprehensive psychological support programs for both patients and their families to improve their mental well-being during the treatment.

6. Continuously monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment protocols to ensure optimal outcomes for children battling cancer.

7. Ensuring that the treatment protocols used at the hospital are up-to-date and aligned with international standards. These protocols are derived from the collective expertise and knowledge shared within the SIOP (International Society of Paediatric Oncology) community, which MAHAK actively engages with.

8. Approximately 135 patients have been assessed and decisions have been made regarding their treatment.

Efforts have been made to implement a multidisciplinary approach in treating children with cancer, involving collaboration among healthcare professionals from different disciplines for comprehensive care. The formation of a board of directors and an education council was based on the idea that regular meetings are being held by them as well.

• Implementation of Educational Programs for Early Diagnosis of Pediatric Cancer in Other Hospitals. As early detection plays a crucial role in improving the prognosis and treatment outcomes for children with cancer, therefore, it is essential to educate healthcare professionals in other hospitals about the early signs and symptoms of pediatric cancer, enabling timely diagnosis and intervention.

All these efforts collectively contribute towards enhancing the quality of care provided at MAHAK Hospital for children undergoing cancer treatment.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Department

MAHAK HSCT department was inaugurated in 2011 within MAHAK Hospital aiming to facilitate the treatment of high risk childhood cancer patients.

1. Eight isolated rooms with UV, HEPA filter and positive air pressure system is dedicated to this department

2. 286 children with cancer with different diagnosis received autologous and allogenic transplantation from 2011 to 2023

3. Cooperation with different national transplantation centers including Shariati Hospital and Royan Institute

4. Inauguration of the first non-governmental and the second HLA Typing bank in Iran with more than 10,000 donated samples in 2017

Hematology- Oncology Research Center (HORC)

MAHAK Research Center was officially registered by Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2018 within the Hospital. By working during the past few years, MAHAK research center has:

1. Collected an extensive demographic and clinical data base from cancer-stricken children admitted during the past 18 years at MAHAK Hospital

2. Strived to set up the hospital-based cancer registry with the assistance and consultation of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

3. Cooperated with different national and international cancer research and treatment centers as well as programs since its inauguration

4. Setting up a comprehensive research laboratory and Bio-Bank in the form of CSR project

5. Formed the research council in order to study different research proposals. During the past five years, 83 projects were studied among from 39 articles has been published in national and international journals.

6. Published two books entitled osteosarcomas and retinoblastoma in order to provide accurate information to the families of children with cancer

7. Setting up the journal club with the cooperation of medical care team of MAHAK

Radiation Oncology Department

Radiation oncology department was inaugurated in early 2007 simultaneously with the hospital operation and all necessary disciplines were gradually added under one roof. It continues since as the first and only pediatric radiation therapy center in Iran which resulted in accepting patients in need of radiation therapy from all over the country offering anesthesia services for the patients. The team includes three radiation oncologists, three medical physicists, eight radiation therapist, one nurse and one biomedical engineer provide services seven days a week in two seven-hour shifts. This department is

1. Equipped with two accelerators

2. Provided services to almost 250 pediatric patients annually, among from 50% are the brain tumors cases

3. Using 3D method, IMRT and VMAT techniques

4. Performed Total Body Irradiation (TBI) for the first time in Iran for children

5. Joined the International Replication Repair Deficiency Consortium considering the high rate of consanguinity marriage in the country

6. Organized weekly multidisciplinary tumor boards in order to employ specialized point of views

Laboratory

MAHAK laboratory has started its operation simultaneously with the Hospital inauguration. This center is a comprehensive one provides services to cancer-stricken children through its clinical and pathology lab utilizing flow cytometry and IHC methods. The molecular and genetic lab is another parts of this center including HLA Typing, genetic chimerism, PCR tests for infectious and viral diseases, balanced translocation tests, and Sanger next-generation sequencing. This center

1. Is active 24/7 for all pediatric patients diagnosed with any types of cancer

2. Performing 90% of all types of required diagnostic and treatment tests

3. Equipped with main required lab devices as well as back-up devices

4. Registered over 2700 patients annually

5. Has a resident pathologist

6. Is going to set up the new device to utilize the MRD technique in flow cytometry