California Man Cured of HIV and Cancer through Stem Cell Transplant
In a groundbreaking medical breakthrough, a California man named Paul Edmonds has been declared cured of both HIV and blood cancer. Edmonds, 68, made international headlines last year when he shared his story of battling both diseases. Now, five years after receiving a stem cell transplant, he has no traces of either condition.
Edmonds’ medical journey began in 1988 when he was diagnosed with AIDS, a time when the virus was often a death sentence for many gay men. Despite witnessing the deaths of many friends from the infection, Edmonds persevered. He was living happily married to his husband until a devastating leukemia diagnosis in 2018 threatened their future plans.
To treat his cancer, Edmonds underwent stem cell therapy, which involved replacing damaged stem cells with healthy ones from a donor. However, doctors saw a unique opportunity to find a donor with a genetic mutation that made them resistant to HIV. They wanted to replicate the success of previous patients who had been cured of both HIV and cancer through this method.
Mr. Edmonds is one of only five individuals worldwide to beat both diseases and the oldest person to do so. He expressed his gratitude towards his doctors at the City of Hope clinic in California, saying, “I am extremely grateful… I can’t thank them enough.”
Stem cell transplants are the final segment of treatment for blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. They involve transplanting healthy stem cells from a donor into the patient, allowing them to develop cancer-free blood. In Edmonds’ case, the donated stem cells also had a rare genetic mutation associated with resistance to HIV-1.
Edmonds had been on HIV antiretroviral therapy since 1997, which suppressed his virus to undetectable amounts. However, this therapy does not fully cure HIV, and the virus remains present in immune cells in the blood. If the therapy is stopped, the virus begins to multiply and becomes detectable again.
In 2018, Edmonds was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer that starts in young white blood cells in the bone marrow. He underwent chemotherapy to reach remission, which was achieved in mid-January 2019. The following month, he received stem cells from his donor, who had the rare genetic mutation associated with HIV resistance.
Since the transplant, Edmonds has shown no signs of AML or HIV. In March 2021, he stopped taking his HIV medication, and his HIV levels were checked weekly to ensure the virus had not returned. Each time, no virus was detected.
Dr. Jana Dickter, a clinical professor in City of Hope’s Division of Infectious Diseases, stated, “City of Hope’s case demonstrates that it is possible to achieve remission from HIV even at an older age and after living with HIV for many years.” She added that personalized treatments for blood cancers will become more common as people with HIV live longer.
The case of Paul Edmonds was described in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlighting the significance of this medical breakthrough. Dr. Stephen Forman, a professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, emphasized that the hospital’s researchers are continuing their efforts to create stem cells naturally resistant to HIV.
HIV, if left untreated, can progress to AIDS, and without medication, people typically survive about three years. While there is currently no cure for HIV, drugs can reduce the amount of virus in the body and prevent transmission. Treatment options have evolved significantly since the early days of the epidemic, with advancements such as single daily pills combining multiple therapies into one.
Gene editing experts are also making strides in the quest to cure HIV. Early studies suggest that an enzyme called CAS9, combined with genetic material, can eliminate sections of the virus’s DNA from human cells. A trial is currently underway to determine the safety and efficacy of this treatment.
The story of Paul Edmonds serves as a beacon of hope for those living with HIV and blood cancers. It demonstrates that remission and even a cure are possible, offering a brighter future for individuals facing these challenging diseases. As medical research continues to advance, more personalized treatments and potential cures may be on the horizon.
