The Art of Precision: How Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Tailors Treatment for Complex Blood Cancers

Two patients with rare plasma cell disorders find individualised pathways to healing through expert diagnosis and strategic treatment planning

When a patient arrives with a condition that has defied conventional treatment, the clinicians at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi approach the challenge with the thoughtfulness of a chess player considering moves several steps ahead. Two recent cases of complex plasma cell disorders illustrate how precision medicine and deep specialist knowledge can illuminate pathways through seemingly intractable illness.

The first patient, a 53-year-old woman, had lived with high-risk multiple myeloma since 2018, when tailbone pain first signalled the disease’s presence. Over subsequent years, she underwent an exhaustive sequence of interventions: autologous stem cell transplant, antibody-drug conjugate therapy, bispecific antibodies, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Yet her myeloma continued to advance, with high disease burden evident both within her bone marrow and in areas beyond it. Fatigue and discomfort marked her days, whilst depleted blood cell counts complicated any further treatment strategy.

The Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi team undertook a meticulous review of her complete treatment history and disease profile, identifying established medicines she had not yet received. As we reported when Abu Dhabi Biobank and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi launched their pioneering oncology collaboration, such personalised approaches to cancer treatment represent the future of healthcare in the region. Her response was monitored through myeloma blood tests, PET imaging and bone marrow biopsies. Following treatment, the masses associated with her myeloma diminished, and her clinical results improved markedly.

The second patient’s journey began with stiffness and numbness in his feet, symptoms initially attributed to a straightforward neurological condition. Further investigation revealed POEMS syndrome, a rare plasma cell disorder characterised by polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy and skin changes. This 42-year-old man’s symptoms, which seemed disconnected, resolved into a single diagnosis requiring a completely different treatment approach.

Dr. Ajlan Al Zaki, Staff Physician, Hematology & Blood Cancer at the Cancer Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, describes the philosophy behind such care: “Plasma cell disorders can behave very differently from one patient to another, which means there is no single approach that works for everyone. We have to understand the biology of the disease, look closely at the patient’s complete clinical picture, and determine the most appropriate strategy for that individual.”

The clinician explains his approach with characteristic precision: “Treatment planning in multiple myeloma can be like a game of chess. You need to decide on the best move for the patient now while thinking several moves ahead. Newer therapies are not always the right answer at every stage. Sometimes an established treatment, used at the right time and in the right sequence, can provide effective disease control and help create opportunities for future treatment.”

Diagnosing rare conditions such as POEMS syndrome demands a particular skill: connecting symptoms and clinical clues that may appear unrelated, and considering diagnoses that do not immediately suggest themselves. Dr. Al Zaki emphasises that early diagnosis remains fundamental to determining appropriate treatment, a principle evident in the clinic’s broader commitment to sophisticated care. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s pioneering preventive robotic colorectal surgery programme demonstrates similar precision in proactive intervention across medical specialties.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

These cases underscore Abu Dhabi’s position as a centre for sophisticated oncology care, where patients with rare and complex conditions can access world-class expertise. The personalised treatment approach demonstrated here reflects the healthcare vision that has made the emirate a destination for patients requiring specialist intervention across multiple disciplines.

The successful management of these two challenging cases also affirms the value of Abu Dhabi’s investment in advanced medical infrastructure and specialist training. As the healthcare sector continues to evolve, such examples of precision diagnosis and tailored treatment represent the calibre of care increasingly available to residents and patients throughout the UAE.

Source: WAM