Apollo Cancer Centre performs CAR-T Cell therapy, first in Telugu States

HYDERABAD: Apollo Cancer Centre here on Monday announced a a major development in cancer treatment with the successful use of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for a patient with multiple myeloma. This was a major advancement in immunotherapy options available to patients in India.

A female patient aged 50 years hailing from Karimnagar had relapsed multiple myeloma and was facing limited treatment options. The decision to pursue CAR-T therapy had provided access to the latest cutting-edge cancer treatments.

CAR-T cell therapies, often known as ‘living drugs’ involves the extraction of a patient’s T-cells (a type of white blood cells whose function is to fight cancer cells) through a process known as Aapheresis.

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These T-cells are then genetically modified by a safe vehicle (viral vector) in a controlled laboratory setting, so that they express modified connectors on their surface called Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CARs). These CARs are specifically designed to recognise a protein which is abnormally expressed on certain cancer cells.

They are then multiplied to a desired dose, and infused directly into the patient who was being discharged on Monday, said Dr Padmaja Lokireddy, Hematologist and BMT Specialist Apollo Cancer Centre CAR-T cell therapies. She said that these therapies gained global recognition for their unparalleled success in transforming the lives of patients with challenging B-cell malignancies.

Having treated over 25,000 patients benefitting from this model, across the globe, Dr Padmaja Lokireddy said, "The successful treatment of the patient using CAR-T Cell therapy represents a significant leap forward in our fight against B-cell lymphomas and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and myelomas. These cases highlight the efficacy and potential of this transformative therapy in providing new hope for patients facing these challenging conditions."

Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals, said "We take immense pride in Apollo Cancer Centres' groundbreaking achievement in successfully implementing CAR-T Cell therapy, a significant step forward in our commitment towards pioneering healthcare in India. This breakthrough, led by our dedicated team positions Apollo Cancer Centres at the forefront of medical innovation.

“This accomplishment echoes our dedication to advancing healthcare and reaffirms our mission to make advanced treatments not only available but affordable for all. Apollo Cancer Centres has been a trailblazer in the Indian medical community, consistently introducing pioneering medical infrastructure and achieving numerous milestones. The introduction of CAR-T Cell therapy represents a new era for cancer treatment in the country.”