In a remarkable achievement for medical science, HCG Cancer Centre in Kolkata has reached a significant milestone with the successful application of CAR T cell gene therapy in treating a severe form of blood cancer in a 62-year-old female patient. Under the leadership of Dr. Joydeep Chakraborty, Head and Senior Consultant in Haemato Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplantation, the hospital’s Haemato Oncology team demonstrated exceptional commitment throughout the treatment process.
The patient, referred to as Maiah, hailing from Myanmar, arrived at HCG Cancer Centre in January. She was battling ‘lambda light myeloma,’ a type of blood cancer originating from plasma cells in the bone marrow. Complicating her condition were extensive bone tumors, rendering her bedridden due to debilitating back pain and susceptibility to vertebral fractures. Additionally, she faced challenges from urosepsis infections in the urinary tract and kidneys, complicating conventional cancer treatment.
Upon admission, Dr. Joydeep Chakraborty and his team initiated a combination therapy regimen, including Daratumumab, Bortezomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone, commonly prescribed for newly diagnosed blood cancer cases. Subsequently, Maiah underwent CAR T-cell therapy, a personalized treatment approach with promising potential for improved response and tolerability. Notably, she received CD19/BCMA dual CAR T-cell therapy, targeting specific protein markers on myeloma cells.
Dr. Chakraborty explained the rationale behind choosing CAR-T cell therapy for Maiah, considering her complex medical history, age, and accompanying complications. The therapy, safer compared to bone marrow transplants, demonstrated high effectiveness in treating challenging diseases with lower toxicity, particularly suitable for elderly patients. Remarkably, Maiah exhibited excellent tolerance to the treatment, experiencing no significant side effects. Her cancer achieved complete remission, resolving all associated health issues and symptoms, leading to her discharge from the hospital in a fully mobile and healthy state.
CAR-T therapy involves engineering the patient’s immune response to target and eliminate cancer cells. Lymphocytes collected from the patient are modified in a specialized laboratory to recognize cancer cells, then reintroduced into the patient’s bloodstream to selectively destroy cancer cells while preserving healthy tissues.
Maiah expressed profound gratitude towards the expertise and dedication of the oncology team at HCG Cancer Centre, whose intervention proved instrumental in saving her life and restoring her health and well-being. With her cancer in complete remission, Maiah has regained her mobility and is enjoying a renewed lease on life.
