Samsung Boosts Pediatric Leukemia Treatment with $209 Million Donation
Seoul, Wednesday, 23 April 2025.
Samsung’s $209 million donation supports Korea’s first standardized protocol for pediatric leukemia, enhancing treatment consistency and survival rates through advanced genetic testing and personalized care.
Transforming Pediatric Cancer Care
In a landmark development for pediatric cancer treatment in Korea, doctors have established the nation’s first standardized protocol for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment, implemented in September 2023 [1]. This systematic approach addresses a critical healthcare gap, as ALL affects approximately 250 children annually in Korea, making it the most prevalent pediatric cancer in the country [1].
Advanced Genetic Testing Integration
The revolutionary protocol incorporates cutting-edge genetic testing methodologies, including Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) testing, which can detect a single cancer cell among 10,000 normal cells [1]. Professor Baek Hee-jo of Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital emphasizes that genetic analysis of bone marrow leukemia cells enables significantly more precise therapy approaches [1]. This advanced testing capability, made accessible through the Samsung family’s donation, allows patients to receive personalized treatment without bearing the associated costs [1].
Closing the International Treatment Gap
Current data shows promising results in standard-risk patients, with Korean cure rates approaching 90 percent, though still trailing U.S. rates by 3 to 5 percentage points [1]. Professor Ju Hee-young of Samsung Medical Center notes that U.S. hospitals have benefited from nationwide standardized treatment studies since the 1960s [1]. The new protocol categorizes patients into distinct risk groups - standard-risk, high-risk, very high-risk, infant, and relapsed - with optimized treatment plans for each category [1].
Future Impact and Implementation
The initiative’s success relies on a comprehensive nationwide hospital network connecting Seoul with regional provinces, ensuring standardized treatment delivery across the country [1]. The protocol’s implementation is supported by the substantial 300 billion won ($209 million) donation from the family of late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee to Seoul National University Hospital in 2021 [1]. According to medical experts, maintaining this uniform approach for the next decade while refining it based on collected data could elevate Korea’s cure rates to world-leading levels [1].