For decades, cancer treatment has primarily relied on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. While these methods remain crucial, new treatment categories have emerged, transforming cancer care. In the last decade, immunotherapy has become a significant addition to cancer treatment. These therapies boost the patient's immune system to fight cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, widely used for cancers like melanoma, lung, kidney, bladder, and lymphoma, have shown remarkable results in shrinking and even eradicating tumors. Some patients experience long-lasting responses to these treatments.
Another promising Immunotherapy CAR T-cell therapy has also demonstrated the ability to eradicate advanced leukemias and lymphomas. This is an innovative type of cancer treatment that harnesses the power of a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. CAR stands for Chimeric Antigen Receptor, which is a specially engineered receptor added to T cells, a type of white blood cell that plays a key role in the immune response. The process begins with collecting T cells from the patient’s blood. These cells are then modified in a laboratory to express CARs on their surface. CARs are designed to recognize and bind to specific proteins (antigens) on the surface of cancer cells. Once engineered, these CAR T cells are multiplied and infused back into the patient. When CAR T cells are reintroduced into the patient’s body, they seek out and attach to the cancer cells that express the target antigens. This binding activates the CAR T cells to attack and kill the cancer cells. Since 2017, FDA has approved six CAR T-cell therapies for blood cancers, including lymphomas, certain leukemias, and multiple myeloma.
India has recently unveiled its first indigenously developed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, marking a significant milestone in the country's medical advancements. The therapy, actalycabtagene autoleucel (actaly-cel, marketed as NexCAR19), was created through a collaboration between scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and Tata Memorial Hospital, in partnership with ImmunoACT. In October 2023, India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization approved actaly-cel for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas and leukemia, making it the first CAR T-cell therapy approved for use in the country.
This unveiling of India's indigenously developed CAR T-cell therapy, NexCAR19, represents a significant advancement amidst global concerns over the high cost and efficacy of such treatments. In contrast to the staggering prices of CAR T-cell therapies in the United States, which can exceed $400,000 per infusion, NexCAR19 is anticipated to cost around $50,000. This drastic reduction in cost aims to make cutting-edge immunotherapy more accessible, addressing criticisms about affordability and ensuring broader patient access in India and potentially beyond.
Here is a list of hospitals in India known to provide CAR T-cell therapy:
- Tata Memorial Hospital
- Apollo Hospitals
- Narayana Hospitals
- Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
- Fortis Hospitals
- Artemis Hospital
- Max Super Speciality Hospital
- Amrita Hospital
- Cytecare Cancer Hospitals
- HCG Cancer Centre
- Hinduja Hospital
- Sahyadri Hospitals
- Zydus Hospital
- Continental Hospitals
- Sterling hospitals
- Jaslok hospitals
- Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre
These hospitals are recognized for offering CAR T-cell therapy, marking advancements in personalized cancer treatment in India.
