Chennai: Six cancer patients for who treatment including chemotherapy failed were cured with the help of cells evolved from their blood, Apollo Cancer Centre announced on Thursday. At least three of the six have been cancer-free for a year.
The therapy involves genetically modifying T cells in patient’s blood to create personalized, one-time cells chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) cells which can detect and destroy cancer cells.It has been around since 2010 in the West and a dozen Indian hospitals picked it up in 2022 when CAR-T cells indigenously developed and cost a third of imported ones. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation approved the therapy in Nov 2023.
Apollo Cancer Centre began trials on patients with lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system), myeloma (cancer of plasma cells), and acute leukemia (cancer of blood cells) in Nov 2022. While four, including a child, were part of the clinical trial, two paid for their treatment. “These patients were sick with a relapse/failed treatment. All are now cured and three have survived for more than a year,” said director of medical oncology Dr T Raja.
CAR-T modified cells, which identify markers on cancerous and healthy cells and initiate cell death, are living drugs that stay in the patient and continue to attack any cancerous cell they find in future too, said paediatric hematologist Dr Revathi Raj. However, since they tend to destroy some immune cells patients who receive them require immunoglobulin replacement therapy (given through IV for those lacking antibodies) once a month. “That’s one of the reasons why this is not considered first line therapy. It is tried when chemotherapy fails,” she said. The treatment, now indicated for patients with lymphomas, lukemias and myelomas, shows promise for treating solid tumour in stomach and kidney during trials, doctors said.
US-FDA recently asked companies to carry statutory warnings as treatment in some patients resulted in development of secondary blood cancers. In nearly 25 of more than 25,000 patients treated, cancer cells manage to escape the immune system. However, the treatment has been permitted as benefits outweigh the risks. “ And since the therapy is approved, we hope insurance companies will cover them,” said Dr T Raja.
We also published the following articles recently
The therapy involves genetically modifying T cells in patient’s blood to create personalized, one-time cells chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) cells which can detect and destroy cancer cells.It has been around since 2010 in the West and a dozen Indian hospitals picked it up in 2022 when CAR-T cells indigenously developed and cost a third of imported ones. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation approved the therapy in Nov 2023.
Apollo Cancer Centre began trials on patients with lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system), myeloma (cancer of plasma cells), and acute leukemia (cancer of blood cells) in Nov 2022. While four, including a child, were part of the clinical trial, two paid for their treatment. “These patients were sick with a relapse/failed treatment. All are now cured and three have survived for more than a year,” said director of medical oncology Dr T Raja.
CAR-T modified cells, which identify markers on cancerous and healthy cells and initiate cell death, are living drugs that stay in the patient and continue to attack any cancerous cell they find in future too, said paediatric hematologist Dr Revathi Raj. However, since they tend to destroy some immune cells patients who receive them require immunoglobulin replacement therapy (given through IV for those lacking antibodies) once a month. “That’s one of the reasons why this is not considered first line therapy. It is tried when chemotherapy fails,” she said. The treatment, now indicated for patients with lymphomas, lukemias and myelomas, shows promise for treating solid tumour in stomach and kidney during trials, doctors said.
US-FDA recently asked companies to carry statutory warnings as treatment in some patients resulted in development of secondary blood cancers. In nearly 25 of more than 25,000 patients treated, cancer cells manage to escape the immune system. However, the treatment has been permitted as benefits outweigh the risks. “ And since the therapy is approved, we hope insurance companies will cover them,” said Dr T Raja.
We also published the following articles recently
Cell therapy gives hope to cancer patients
CAR-T cell therapy involves extracting a patient’s T cells, modifying them with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) in a laboratory, and infusing them back into the patient. This transformative therapy has shown efficacy in treating challenging B-cell malignancies, providing new hope for patients.
CAR-T cell therapy involves extracting a patient’s T cells, modifying them with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) in a laboratory, and infusing them back into the patient. This transformative therapy has shown efficacy in treating challenging B-cell malignancies, providing new hope for patients.
She makes meals delicious for mouth cancer patients in Ahmedabad
Dr Kaustubh Patel, director and head of surgical oncology at HCG Cancer Centre, highlighted the challenges faced by cancer patients and the unwavering support provided by their spouses and family members. Dr Dushyant Mandlik and Dr Purvi Patel, coordinators for the ‘Silent Warriors Award’, emphasized the importance of remaining positive and finding purpose during the cancer journey.
Dr Kaustubh Patel, director and head of surgical oncology at HCG Cancer Centre, highlighted the challenges faced by cancer patients and the unwavering support provided by their spouses and family members. Dr Dushyant Mandlik and Dr Purvi Patel, coordinators for the ‘Silent Warriors Award’, emphasized the importance of remaining positive and finding purpose during the cancer journey.