Dr Nitin Sood, Senior Director, Medical Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant, Cancer Care, Medanta, Gurugram explains how CAR-T cell therapy is emerging as a potential game-changer in cancer treatment
Blood cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, pose significant health challenges in India, with thousands affected annually. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the country sees over 100,000 new cases each year. Unfortunately, due to limited awareness and lack of early detection, many cases are diagnosed late. While traditional treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplants have long been the cornerstones of blood cancer care, a new treatment, CAR-T cell therapy, is emerging as a potential game-changer.
Blood cancer in India: The current landscape
Accounting for 8 per cent of all cancer cases in India, blood cancers present a major public health issue, with early detection and access to treatment remaining significant challenges. Although chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow transplants are crucial, their effectiveness can vary depending on the type and stage of the cancer. These treatments can also be physically and emotionally taxing. In contrast, CAR-T cell therapy offers new hope, particularly for patients with aggressive cancers, such as relapsed or refractory leukemia and lymphoma.
Understanding CAR-T cell therapy
CAR-T cell therapy is a form of immunotherapy that leverages the body’s immune system to fight cancer. The process involves collecting T-cells, a type of immune cell, from the patient’s blood and modifying them in a laboratory to recognize and attack cancer cells. These engineered T-cells are then multiplied and reintroduced into the patient’s bloodstream, where they specifically target and destroy cancer cells. Unlike traditional treatments, CAR-T therapy is highly targeted, focusing on cancer cells while minimising damage to healthy tissue, which leads to fewer side effects and a more manageable experience for patients.
Advantages of CAR-T cell therapy
CAR-T cell therapy offers several significant benefits:
- Personalised approach: Since it uses the patient’s own immune cells, the therapy is highly individualized, reducing the risk of rejection or complications from donor cells.
- High efficacy in difficult cases: CAR-T therapy has demonstrated remarkable success in treating relapsed or refractory blood cancers that have not responded to standard treatments. Research indicates that remission rates can reach up to 90 per cent in children and young adults with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
- Long-term remission: Many patients experience extended periods without cancer recurrence after CAR-T therapy, sometimes for several years. This has led some experts to consider it a potential cure for certain blood cancers.
- Enhanced quality of life: For patients who have exhausted other treatment options, CAR-T therapy provides a shorter, more tolerable treatment experience, involving just a few weeks of preparation and infusion followed by observation. This often means less time spent in the hospital compared to more intensive treatments like bone marrow transplants.
Though still a developing field, CAR-T cell therapy represents a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment. With its personalised and targeted approach, it offers new possibilities for patients who have few remaining options. As the therapy continues to evolve, it holds the promise of benefiting more individuals, bringing hope for better outcomes and long-term remission.
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