MADURAI: Advanced targeted and precision therapies that act selectively on cancer cells and spare healthy tissue have significantly improved treatment tolerability, outcomes and survival rates for adult and pediatric patients with blood cancers, say doctors from the Department of Adult Hematology and Pediatric Oncology at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre. They spoke to reporters in connection with World Cancer Day.Dr T Kasi Viswanathan, Senior Consultant, Hematology-Oncology, HOD, said five out of seven patients treated with targeted therapy survived and are leading healthy lives. Among children between the ages of 1 and 18, four out of five children with refractory acute leukemia were able to achieve remission and thrive with the use of immunotherapies such as inotuzumab and blinatumomab, he said. Pediatric hemato-oncologist Dr V Anitha estimates the overall survival rate to be around 80%. Pediatric hemato-oncologist Dr VS Venkateswaran said around 20% of children require bone marrow transplants and they perform bone marrow transplants with results ranging from 70% to 80%.