What is CAR-T cell therapy and how can it help ‘cure cancer’ in India?

Health By Sumit Jha Feb 12, 2024 Read the article

The inaugural successful application of CAR-T cell therapy — a homegrown cancer treatment — took place on an Indian patient recently.

[{"selector":"#anim-edce11a8-cf9c-407f-a9ab-e1bd649e923f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07161785-6d84-43c8-a6e8-62d95b7b05ff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 43.77197%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b4b2f41-5d6e-4cd5-8d2e-5c2a44b9f264","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d9f6ed6-d728-4a56-9444-f00f1e31f4b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 143.30811%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf6ffc6c-a00f-46d1-84c8-773f409f6217 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.92857133105062%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Read the article Health

The gastroenterologist Dr (Col) VK Gupta underwent this groundbreaking procedure, which typically carries a price tag of ₹3-4 crore abroad. The therapy cost him ₹42 lakh in India.

[{"selector":"#anim-5ab1b185-c659-4858-ae71-819fe53d8825","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24cf613b-75d8-4c48-96be-2dc611db30c8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 45.14748%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf75b371-34e7-499f-bcd8-fe6ab17a1fbf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4f44795-393d-4277-b85c-c5a549c6709e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 143.87629%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36333f06-f275-4159-9715-da69b06ecbe3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.92857133105062%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Read the article Health

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granted commercial approval for CAR-T cell therapy only recently.

[{"selector":"#anim-299a53d3-36a1-4547-a5d5-22c03a342583","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-432011a0-0424-47cb-abdd-1f29c1156068","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.02094%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-256f978d-0c65-4972-8006-9e314ce6e02f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fcfda172-7ff4-4378-a339-75e486866468","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 155.25319%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cfaec2f5-0874-4da2-b051-8b6edf24c919 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-43.8504015104715%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Read the article Health

This therapy is known for its ability to genetically reprogram the immune system of patients to combat cancer.

[{"selector":"#anim-db10a21a-7464-41d5-bb14-0286987c88c2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fceaf301-2d25-474a-bd91-267b06cb32f8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 39.64542%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75eba84d-07ae-405b-970c-29437d792aed","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41105e7c-74a2-4195-a4d1-196653208648","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 155.25319%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41826b48-f2fd-4b06-ae5c-72c344ea05ac [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Read the article Health

“This is indeed a significant milestone. Blood cancers often have a rapid spread throughout the body, making it challenging,” said Haemato-Oncologist Dr Karuna Kumar.

[{"selector":"#anim-df839c1f-dc08-43b3-973b-1a1676c93868","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5a6f38b5-8ff2-48a8-b572-db8666b517b9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 45.14748%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38600636-1e44-4292-8e0d-2d80dee71ca8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecefbfb7-e91c-4983-b036-66ca3fbdb03e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 143.87629%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f97a017f-a04d-4712-8e10-8837d01c58f4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-60.353915566696394%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Read the article Health

It is designed to treat various diseases, including acute lymphocytic leukaemia, multiple myeloma, glioblastoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

[{"selector":"#anim-09781efc-7a60-499d-998b-7bbc45e29164","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77ea0d05-287b-4703-8bff-810388c697e7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 41.02094%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-888fe8ee-4863-4f24-b8fd-f71086673436","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bbd7fcac-b3a8-4ff4-96cc-8fe0669d64bb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.53210%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-449d2345-23e7-4068-96a4-bdecc7db0b55 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.843749786673241%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Read the article Health

Cancer remains a significant public health challenge in India, with approximately 16 lakh new diagnoses reported in 2023.

[{"selector":"#anim-96964369-8caa-48be-ad31-f9adb3128ecb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7dd1547b-09c5-4e93-8b7a-b512709e9898","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 39.64542%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4292e80a-aa72-4733-b735-7589d7b48cf0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1635a290-2fb7-4ba5-8ae1-9f34f9154f19","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 155.93349%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c124593d-5aaf-40e3-9539-532e2d2d1352 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-18.824404648130486%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Read the article Health

CAR-T cell therapy, is known for its efficacy, but is hindered by severe side effects and high costs, making it inaccessible for many patients.

[{"selector":"#anim-c7de9008-5605-4343-b953-d92b70ffd37b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-772806fb-d33d-433e-bac3-859f2d57b8f1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 42.39646%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-04b55d8d-bb55-4400-8fa1-723ef0e7477c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52ec5a8e-f1ed-4689-9027-9479492ef056","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 158.65454%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-557ba82c-9a1c-45ba-8436-5831329517db [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-15.178571314797159%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Read the article Health