A New Weapon in India’s Fight Against Cancer: CAR T-cell Therapy

Verified by Dr. Punit Jain – Consultant Hematology, Program Coordinator & Transplant Physician and Dr. Vipin Khandelwal – Consultant Pediatric Hemato- Oncology at Apollo Cancer Centers in Navi Mumbai.

Exciting news for cancer patients in India! CAR T-cell therapy, a revolutionary treatment using genetically modified immune cells, is now available domestically. This marks a significant step forward in offering advanced options for battling tough-to-treat cancers.

What is CAR T-cell therapy?

Imagine training your body’s own immune system to become an army specifically targeting cancer cells. That’s the essence of CAR T-cell therapy. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1. T-cell extraction: Doctors extract T-cells, a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections, from the patient’s blood.
2. Genetic modification: In a lab, scientists modify the T-cells with a special receptor called Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR). This CAR helps the T-cells recognize specific proteins on the surface of cancer cells.
3. Reinfusion: The engineered T-cells are then multiplied in large numbers and reinfused back into the patient’s bloodstream. These modified T-cells, now programmed to identify and attack cancer cells, become powerful living drugs.

Benefits and Availability

• CAR T-cell therapy has shown remarkable results in treating certain blood cancers, particularly B-cell malignancies like Leukemia and Lymphoma. 
• This therapy offers hope for patients who haven’t responded well to conventional treatments like chemotherapy or radiation.

A “Made in India” CAR-T program, NexCAR19™, is currently available at Apollo Cancer Centres in Navi Mumbai, catering to adults and adolescents above 15 years old.

Hope for the Future

The arrival of CAR T-cell therapy in India is a significant development. While currently focused on specific cancers, research is ongoing to expand its application to other types. This innovative treatment holds immense potential for improving patient outcomes and offering a brighter future for cancer care in India.

Consult our experts, Dr. Punit Jain – Consultant Hematology, Program Coordinator & Transplant Physician and Dr. Vipin Khandelwal – Consultant Pediatric Hemato- Oncology at Apollo Cancer Centres in Navi Mumbai for more information.

Call 022 6280 6280 for an appointment.