A major advancement in the treatment of blood cancers, including B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, has been made with the opening of the first Center of Excellence for CAR T-Cell Therapy in the National Capital Region (NCR) by Amrita Hospital in Faridabad. By genetically modifying a patient’s own T-cells to specifically target and eradicate cancer cells, CAR T-Cell Therapy is an innovative immunotherapy that has completely changed the way cancer is treated. The goal of the launch is to provide patient access to this innovative therapy in Northern India.
Medical Director Dr. Sanjeev Singh of Amrita Hospital emphasized the hospital’s pioneering role in implementing novel treatments, pointing out that the team has been at the forefront of developing cancer medicines, ranging from conventional treatments to stem cell transplants and, more recently, CAR-T therapies. The hospital is now recognized as a leader in the field of cutting-edge cancer therapy thanks to the experience it has gained adopting these therapies.
The hospital’s senior oncologist, Dr. Prashant Mehta, stressed that the Center of Excellence’s opening will facilitate the use of CAR T-cell treatment. As a result, more patients will be able to experience long-lasting remission, expanding the therapy’s potential patient base in Northern India. The main goal of the center is to provide patients with difficult-to-treat tumors with complete care, from diagnosis through the end of treatment, including CAR T-cell therapy as a vital tool.
Chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which are receptors that can target particular proteins on cancer cells, are produced by genetically modifying T-cells that are extracted from a patient’s blood. This process is known as CAR T-Cell Therapy. After that, the patient receives another infusion of these altered T-cells, which target and eliminate cancer cells. Promising outcomes have been observed in the therapy, providing patients with limited options for traditional treatments with a long-term remission.
The hospital disclosed that over 100 patients had received CAR T-cell therapy since October 2023, when the regulatory body for India, the CDSCO, approved NexCAR19. The therapy has demonstrated its potential for long-term success and given hope to many patients suffering from aggressive forms of cancer, as seen by the encouraging results, with some patients being in remission for more than two years.
By providing patients in India with access to one of the most cutting-edge cancer treatments, the Center of Excellence’s founding marks a significant advancement in the field of cancer therapy. Additionally, it reaffirms Amrita Hospital’s dedication to advancing medical innovation and enhancing patient outcomes.
SOURCE :
ECONOMIC TIMES
