Introduction to CAR-T Cell therapy
Welcome to Star Cancer Care. In this blog post, we’ll explore one of the most innovative therapies in cancer treatment – CAR T cell therapy. From its inception to its transformative impact on cancer care, we’ll uncover how this revolutionary approach is reshaping the landscape of oncology.
What is CAR T Cell Therapy?
- CAR T cell therapy, or chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, represents a cutting-edge form of immunotherapy that harnesses the power of the immune system to combat cancer. By genetically engineering a patient’s own T cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells, CAR T cell therapy offers a highly targeted and personalized treatment approach.
What is the Science Behind CAR T Cells?
- At the heart of CAR T cell therapy lies the engineering of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) onto T cells, the body’s own immune cells. These CARs are designed to recognize specific proteins, or antigens, present on the surface of cancer cells. By arming T cells with these synthetic receptors, they can effectively seek out and eliminate cancer cells throughout the body.
- Watch this interesting video to understand and see how our own modified T cells fight cancer cells.
Which Cancers can be treated by CAR-T cell therapy?
- CAR T cell therapy has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in treating various types of cancer, particularly blood cancers such as aggressive leukemia and lymphoma, and neurological cancers such as glioblastoma. For example, CAR T cells targeting the CD19 antigen have shown unprecedented success in treating relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies, leading to durable remissions in a significant proportion of patients.
What are the side effects of CAR-T cell therapy?
- While CAR T cell therapy holds tremendous promise, it also presents unique challenges and considerations. Managing side effects requires vigilant monitoring and supportive care strategies.
- Long-term cytotoxicity is only studied on a small scale
- Cytopenias: Decreased blood cell counts
- Hypogammaglobulinemia: low levels of immunoglobulins, or antibodies, in the blood
- Cytokine release syndrome (CRS): The accelerated release of cytokines as a result of cancer cell death causes symptoms ranging from milder form (Fever, Fatigue, Headache, Rash, Arthralgia, and Myalgia) to severe forms (Hypotension, Cardiovascular involvement, Pulmonary involvement, Renal involvement, and Neurotoxicity)
- CAR T cell-related encephalopathy syndrome (CRES)
- Other neurological symptoms including seizures
What are the benefits of CAR-T cell therapy?
- Deep initial response
- Has resulted in durable long term remission
- Fewer severe infections than stem cell transplantation
- More decline of tumor volume
- Higher levels of circulating CAR T lymphocyte cells can be achieved.
- Enables delivery of higher amount of chemotherapy
What is the cost of CAR-T cell therapy in Delhi, India?
Being both new and highly individualized to each patient, CAR T cell therapies can get very expensive — reaching up to $500,000 in USA and Rs. 30-40 Lakhs in India. It is available at only 20 Indian government and private hospitals. Additionally, optimizing the manufacturing process and scalability of CAR T cell therapy remains an ongoing area of research and development.
Future Directions:
- Despite the challenges, CAR T cell therapy continues to evolve and expand its reach in oncology. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating its efficacy in solid tumors and exploring novel CAR designs to enhance specificity and durability. With each advancement, we move closer to realizing the full potential of CAR T cell therapy in combating cancer.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, CAR T cell therapy represents a paradigm shift in cancer treatment, offering new hope to patients facing advanced or refractory disease. As we continue to unlock the mysteries of the immune system and refine the technology behind CAR T cells, we pave the way for a future where cancer can be conquered. Stay tuned to Star Cancer Care for more updates on the latest breakthroughs in healthcare and oncology. Together, we’re on the journey to defeating cancer and improving patient outcomes. For more questions please comment and feel free to contact us.
