CAR T-Cell Therapy – A Revolutionizing Treatment For Leukemia

Leukemia, or cancer of the blood, is one of the life-threatening diseases with a bleak survival rate. Until now, patients were administered chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. None of these treatments have eradicated this disease in a majority. But that isn’t the case with a promising new treatment, which is CAR T-cell therapy.

CAR T-cell is a highly specialized immunotherapy for leukemia, which involves modifying a patient’s own T cells (white blood cells) to attack their cancer. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for those with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Currently, CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia is available in some select hospitals in India, Turkey, Israel, Singapore, and Spain. Efforts are being made to make this novel treatment as affordable and accessible as possible.

Keep reading to learn about this new and potentially effective treatment for blood cancer, the countries and hospitals where it is available, its success rate, and its estimated cost.

How CAR T-Cell Therapy Cures Leukemia?

Studies prove that CAR T-cell therapy sends leukemia into a lasting remission, something that every cancer patient desires. Another study done by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital showed that CAR T-cell therapy has immense potential to provide long-term protection in cancer that relapses. 

Leading oncologists assert that CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia can even cure some people with very advanced stages of cancer and for whom no conventional treatment so far has worked. 

The CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia works in the following way:

T cells are taken from a patient. They are then engineered in the body. These re-engineered T-cells are called “chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells.” Doctors multiply these cells into billions in the lab, after which they are frozen and sent to the facility where the patient is receiving the treatment.

CAR T-cells are thawed and inserted into the patient’s body. The cells enter the patient’s body and multiply rapidly. They become the ”attacker” cells that attack the cancer cells with the targeted antigen on them.

The Success Rate Of CAR T-Cell Therapy For Leukemia 

CAR T-cell therapy has made nearly 76% of people achieve long-lasting remission from leukemia. The success rate is higher in younger patients than older people. It also depends on the type of leukemia you have and the stage at which it has progressed.

Studies have also found that following CAR-T cell therapy, more than 80% of relapsed and refractory patients with adult B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) achieved total remission. Similarly, over half of B-cell lymphoma patients with chemorefractory disease achieved total remission following CAR T-cell therapy.

According to Ching-Hon Pui, MD, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, CAR T-cell therapy may become the new standard of care for leukemia. This is because it prevents patients from local radiation to the bone marrow or central nervous system, which can result in grave side effects like brain tumors.

Who Is Eligible For CAR T-Cell Therapy?

To be eligible for CAR T-cell therapy, you need to meet the following conditions:

• You should be diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that hasn’t responded to earlier treatments. 
• Your cancer has relapsed after a single line of previous treatment. 
• You are in good general health otherwise.

Side Effects Of CAR T-Cell Therapy For Leukemia

• Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a common side effect of CAR-T cell therapy. It happens when the modified T-cells are infused into a patient’s bloodstream. It causes fever, low blood pressure, body aches, and other flu-like symptoms.
• Some patients may experience neurotoxicity after CAR-T cell therapy. Neurotoxicity can be potentially fatal.
• Sometimes, CAR-T cell therapy can lead to blood disorders like anemia and low platelet count.
• After the first few weeks of getting this treatment, patients are also at an increased risk for infections.

Cost Of CAR T-Cell Therapy For Leukemia In India

CAR T-Cell therapy for leukemia costs around $69,500 in India. This cost is distributed as follows:

CAR T-Cell Therapy Hospitals and Doctors in India

In India, CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia is done in the following hospitals:

• Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai
• Apollo Hospital, Chennai
• Max Hospital, Saket, Delhi
• Cytecare Cancer Hospital, Bangalore
• Amrita Hospital, Faridabad

Treating Leukemia With CAR T At Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai

CAR T-cell therapy was successfully administered to a patient at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, on June 4, 2021. CAR T-cell therapy NexCAR19 was approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization for the treatment of leukemia in October 2023.

The main oncologists involved in using CAR T for this cancer treatment include:

• Gaurav Narula – He is a Professor of Pediatric Oncology & Health Sciences. He worked with the Indian Navy for 25 years. Dr. Narula’s focus is on improving leukemia treatment outcomes with cost-effective alternatives and technology like CAR T-cells.
• Navin Khattry – Dr. Khattry is the deputy director of the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research, and Education in Cancer. Previously, he was the Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology. Dr. Khattry has extensive experience in researching and using the latest advancements to eliminate cancers like multiple myeloma.
• Rajendra Badwe – He is a surgical oncologist with 39 years of experience. Dr. Badwe has been involved in using CAR T-cell therapy to treat leukemia for the past 4 years.
• Jyoti Bajpai – She is the Professor at Tata Memorial Cancer Center. She has been researching immune oncology and CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia for several years.

CAR T-Cell Therapy To Successfully Treat Leukemia At Apollo Cancer Centres (ACCs), Chennai

Apollo Cancer Centres has begun providing Made in India CAR-T cell therapy, NexCAR19 (Actalycabtagene autoleucel) for leukemia in patients aged 15 years and above. Over 25,000 patients have undergone this therapy. The major oncologists involved in this therapy at Apollo include:

• T. Raja – He is the director of Medical Oncology at ACC. Dr. Raja is an internationally acclaimed physician. He has 20 years of experience in treating cancer patients of various ages.
• Revathi Raj – She is the Senior Consultant of Paediatric Haematology Oncology at ACCs, Chennai. Dr. Raj has over 21 years of experience in cancer care. She is extensively involved in the latest treatments like bone marrow transplant, stem cell treatment, and CAR T-cell therapy.
• Vikas Mahajan – Dr. Mahajan is a surgical oncologist with 28 years of expertise. He has been treating different types of cell tumors, breast cancer, and gynecological cancer for decades. Recently, he has been involved in using CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia.
• Rajaraman – Dr. Rajaram is a surgical oncologist and general physician. He has 23 years of experience in providing cancer screening, treating head and neck tumors, chemotherapy, and parotid surgery.

CAR T-Cell Therapy To Fight Leukemia At Max Hospital, Saket, Delhi

CAR T-cell therapy was launched in Max Hospital in collaboration with ImmunoACT, an Indian company that originated at IIT Bombay. CAR T-cell therapy at Max Hospital, a multi-specialty facility in Saket has shown huge success in treating leukemia. Clinical trials have demonstrated that some patients can achieve complete remission from leukemia using this therapy. The main doctors at Max Hospital for CAR T treatment are:

• Harit Chaturvedi – He is the chairman of the Max Institute of Cancer Care and has 33 years of experience in treating cancer. He is closely involved in using CAR T-cell therapy at Max Healthcare.
• Pramod Kumar Julka – Dr. Julka has 44 years of experience in cancer care. He is the former president of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India and is currently trying to make the CAR T-cell therapy program a success for Indian patients.
• (Dr.) Atul Sharma – Dr. Sharma is the Vice Chairman of Medical Oncology at Max. He has been involved in treating cancer patients, especially leukemia sufferers of various ages for 25 years.
• Sandeep Batra – Dr. Batra is the senior director at Max Hospital in Saket. His specialties are gynecologic oncology, uro-oncology gastrointestinal oncology, and medical oncology.

Car T-Cell Therapy To Beat Leukemia At Cytecare Hospitals, Bangalore

Cytecare Hospitals in Karnataka, in collaboration with ImmunoACT, has started offering CAR-T cell therapy for leukemia patients. Those aged 15 and above can take this therapy if their earlier treatments have failed. Doctors involved in this treatment at Cytecare include:

• Prasad Narayanan – He is the director of Medical Oncology, Haemato Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant, at Cytecare. Previously, he worked at Dubai Hospital, Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Centre, and Narayana Health City. He was recognized with the Dronacharya Award for Oncology in the CME Excellence Summit. Dr. Narayanan is deeply involved in boosting clinical paradigms using CAR T-cell treatment.
• Akshay Kudpaje – He is the director at Head & Neck Oncology. He has been caring for cancer patients suffering from oral and laryngeal cancers. Dr. Kudpae is also a member of The Foundation for Head & Neck Oncology India.
• Aparna Subraya Gangoli – Dr. Aparna is the head of Laboratory Medicine. She is a skilled surgical oncopathologist and cytopathologist. Dr. Gangoli is also one of the major doctors associated with CAR T-cell therapy at Cytecare Hospitals.
• Adithya V Naragund – Dr. Naragund is the senior GI and HBP surgery consultant. He is deeply involved in researching the newest advancements in cancer treatments. These include robotic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia.

CAR T-Cell Therapy To Defeat Leukemia At Amrita Hospital, Faridabad

Amrita Hospital in Faridabad has become the first in Northern India to offer CAR T-cell treatment to cancer patients. It is a top multi-specialty hospital catering to both Indian and international patients. The hospital has administered CAR T-cell therapy to four patients and their progress is being monitored.

• Prashant Mehta – Dr. Mehta is a noted medical oncologist at Amrita Hospital who treats myeloma and leukemia. He is leading the cellular therapy program at Amrita Hospital and working to make CAR-T cell therapies more accessible.
• Sanjeev Singh – Dr. Sing is the medical director at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad. He has been working to improve CAR T-cell therapy and create a collaborative cell therapy lab.
• Pravas Chandra Mishra – Dr. Mishra is a leading hemato oncologist at Amrita Hospital who heads the Medical Oncology and Haematology department. Dr. Mishra is associated with providing stem cell transplants and CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia.

Cost of CAR T-Cell Treatment For Leukemia In Turkey

The estimated overall cost of CAR T-cell therapy in Turkey for leukemia is $1,47,485. This table will help you understand costs related to its various aspects.

CAR T-Cell Therapy Hospitals And Doctors In Turkey

The following hospitals in Turkey are providing CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia.

• Liv Hospital
• Acibadem Altunizade Clinic
• Medipol Hospital
• Medical Park Hospital
• Anadolu Medical Center

CAR T-Cell Therapy At Liv Hospital, Istanbul

Liv Hospital in Istanbul has robust oncology, robotic surgery, and stem cell therapy departments for treating cancer. The hospital has been recognized for offering CAR T-cell therapy to leukemia patients. The hospital has successfully used this treatment on cancer patients. The following doctors are involved in this advanced treatment approach.

• Prof. Dr. Duygu Derin – Dr. Derin is a medical oncologist with 31 years of experience. She is an active member of the Medical Oncology Society and the Chamber of Medicine. Dr. Derin has been working to provide CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia and myeloma at Liv Hospital.
• Meltem Topalgökçeli Selam – Dr. Selam is a specialist in gastrointestinal and ovarian cancer with 16 years of experience. Currently, she performs the latest procedures for treating patients, such as chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, and CAR T-cell therapy.
• Merdan Fayda – Dr. Mersan has 23 years of experience as a radiation oncologist. He treats patients with skin, blood, breast, and central nervous system cancers. He has also been involved in supervising patients getting CAR T-cell therapy

CAR T-cell Therapy To Win Against Leukemia At Acibadem Altunizade Clinic

Acibadem Altunizade Clinic provides customized CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia. Doctors use the CD-19 receptor in this treatment. It benefits those with relapsed or refractory B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Acibadem Altunizade Clinic caters to international patients. It provides globally competitive and integrated healthcare services. The center uses a multidisciplinary approach and advanced technology to treat cancer. The following doctors are involved in developing the CAR T-cell therapy here.

• M.D. Abdullah Buyukcelik – Dr. Buyukcelik leads the Internal Medicine Department of Oncology at Acibadem Health Group in Turkey. He has 24 years of experience. He is also an active member of many medical associations like the Association of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology Association, and Ankara Medical Oncology Association.
• D Aziz Yazar – Dr. Yazar is the most sought-after doctor at Acobadem in Istanbul, Turkey as he has 33 years of experience in treating blood cancer. Dr. Yazar, who has previously worked at the American Hospital and the Istanbul University Institute of Oncology is also associated with delivering CAR T treatment.
• Alpar Sonkaya – Dr. Sonkaya is a top oncologist at Acıbadem Health Group who has previously worked at Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital. Dr. Sonkaya is also a part of the Turkish Medical Association Istanbul Medical Chamber, the European Society of Medical Oncology, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
• Basak Oyan Uluc – Dr. Uluc is a specialized medical oncologist at Acibadem. She is currently creating preventive measures programs for patients using an interdisciplinary approach. It considers pathology, and therapy. She has also been involved in CAR T-cell therapy for blood cancer patients.

CAR T-Cell Treatment For Leukemia At Medipol Mega University Hospital

The Medipol Mega University Hospital in Turkey is well-recognized in the field of cancer care. Its oncological department receives over lakh patients every year.

The hospital follows a multidisciplinary approach to help cancer patients. It provides budget-friendly services. Lately, it has started providing CAR T cell therapy besides stem cell transplantation for leukemia patients. The following doctors are administering this treatment.

• Prof. M.D. Kursat Ozdilli – Prof. Ozdilli heads the pediatric hematology and oncology department at Medipol Hospital in Turkey. He has over two decades of experience in cancer research and care. Dr. Ozdilli is working to develop the current state of CAR T cell therapy for leukemia.
• M.D Hakan Kocar – Dr. Hakan Kosar is a general practitioner at Medipol Mega University Hospital with a specialization in medical oncology. He has 26 years of experience in delivering quality cancer care.
• Dr. Ertan Taskopru – An Uludag University graduate, Dr. Taskopru is one of the leading oncologists at Medipol Hospital. He is closely involved with developing CAR T cell treatment for leukemia.

Medical Park Group In Istanbul For CAR T-Cell Therapy

Medical Park Hospital in Turkey offers CAR T-cell therapy for blood cancer. It is done by a team of hematologists, oncologists, and paramedical staff. Patients can also avail themselves of video telemedicine consultations before undergoing CAR-T therapy here.

• Dr. Savaş Tuna – With 30 years of experience, Dr. Tuna is a top medical oncologist in Turkey’s Medical Park Hospital. He specializes in chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia and myeloma.
• Ilan Gil Ron – Dr. Ron is a radiation oncologist with 32 years of experience. He is a member of the Israeli Society for Clinical Oncology and Radiation. Dr. Ron is deeply involved in improving patient outcomes using CAR T-cell therapy.
• A.Uğur Yılmaz M.D. – Dr. Yilmaz has 20 years of experience in treating skin cancer and blood cancer. He is well-known for using current research in treating patients at Medical Park Hospital in Istanbul.

Beat Leukemia At Anadolu Medical Center, Istanbul

Anadolu Medical Center in Istanbul is another major provider of CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia. The center provides American treatment standards at affordable prices to international patients.

Anadolu Medical Center is affiliated with Johns Hopkins Hospital. It is one of the top 10 hospitals globally as per the Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA). The major medical oncologists involved in providing CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia at Anadolu are:

• MD Zafer Gulbas – Dr. Gulbas is the director of medical oncology at Anadolu Medical Center. He founded the Bone Marrow Transplantation Center. Dr. Gulbas provides CAR T-cell therapy for cancer treatment. Patients receive this treatment along with language assistance and airport transfers.
• Savas Kansoy – He is a pediatric hematology and oncology specialist and a member of many medical oncology associations. Currently, he is working to boost the outcomes of CAR T-cell therapy for blood cancer.
• Serdar Turhal – Dr. Turhal specializes in various medical oncology procedures. Previously, he was chosen as the head of the Oncology Department of the European Medical Association for 2 years in 2015. He is abreast of the advancements in cancer treatments like immunotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy.
• Seref Komurcu – Dr. Komurcu has experience in working at prestigious hospitals like Cleveland Clinic in the USA. He has been a member of the Pharmacovigilance Commission and Oncology Advisory Commission in the Ministry of Health. At Anadolu Medical Center, Dr. Komurcu is associated with delivering the CAR T-cell therapy program.

Cost of CAR T-Cell Therapy for Leukemia In Israel

CAR T-cell therapy’s price for leukemia in Israel is $1,51,200. This table shows the breakdown.

CAR T-Cell Therapy Hospitals And Doctors In Israel

CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma is being offered at the following hospitals:

• Hadassah Hospital
• Sheba Medical Center

Hadassah Hospital’s Affordable CAR T-Cell Therapy For Leukemia

Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem has introduced CAR T-cell therapy, the novel immunotherapy treatment at affordable prices. The idea to use this treatment was conceived by Zelig Eshhar, PhD, at Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science. Prof. Polina Stepensky, Dr. Shlomit Kfir-Erenfeld, and Dr. Nathalie Asherie of Hadassah Hospital’s Bone Marrow Transplantation Department developed the CAR-T treatment for leukemia and myeloma. They did so by collaborating with Prof. Cyrille J. Cohen of Bar-Ilan University.

The hospital is treating patients with NEXICART-1 (NCT04720313). It is set to expand its clinical testing in the US. Until now, this therapy has provided successful outcomes on three occasions. The major doctors using this treatment at Hadassah are:

• Polina Stepensky – Dr. Stepensky is the head of the Department of TKM and Immunotherapy in Children and Adults at Hadassah Hospital. She introduced CAR T treatment in Israel and developed a more cost-effective approach to using it.
• Tamar Peretz-Yablonski – Dr. Tamar is an oncology specialist. She has 40 years of experience and heads the Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah University Hospital. She is also testing and providing CAR T-cell therapies to blood cancer patients.
• Vivian Barak – Dr. Barak specializes in CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia and multiple myeloma. She also teaches at the Hadassah University Medical Center. Dr. Barak has 40 years of experience in developing novel treatments for cancer patients.

Sheba Medical Center Making CAR T-Cell Therapy For Leukemia Accessible

In Israel, CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia is also performed at Sheba Medical Center. It is spearheaded by the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department and the Ella Lemelbaum Institute for Immuno-Oncology. In Sheba Hospital, the success rate of CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia ranges from 80 to 85% in children and teenagers, and 70% for the entire population.

The T-cells are developed in-house. The hospital does not depend on commercial pharma manufacturers. This is done to preserve the cell quality and potency. Until now, patients from Brazil, Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Serbia, India, and Ukraine have undergone this novel treatment for blood cancer.

The hospital’s CAR-T programs commenced in 2016. Until now, 258 patients have been administered this immunotherapy. It makes Sheba one of the largest CAR-T cell therapy centers in Europe. Patients typically need to spend around 10 days for this treatment. It is followed by a two-week hospitalization period for monitoring and rehabilitation.

Oncologists customize the treatment based on individual needs and the health profile of each patient. Major oncologists involved in this program include:

• Dr. Arnon Nagler – He is the director of the departments of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplantation, and Cord Blood Bank at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center. Dr. Nagler has an experience of 25 years. He is a specialist in the domains of cell-mediated immunotherapy and transplantation. Currently, he is using CAR T-cell therapy for patients with leukemia from across the world at Sheba Hospital.
• Dr. Abraham Avigdor – Dr. Avigdor is the founder of the Israeli Lymphoma Working Group. He has received many accolades for his work in hematology. He uses advanced treatment methodologies to treat leukemia patients. CAR T-cell therapy is one of the many approaches he is using for patients at Sheba.
• Dr. Elad Jacoby – Dr. Elad has expertise in using CAR T-cell and stem cell transplantation for leukemia. He is the head of Sheba’s Pediatric Cell Therapy Center. He is also certified by the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology.

Cost of CAR T-Cell Therapy for Leukemia In Singapore

CAR T-cell therapy’s price for leukemia in Singapore is $3,84,260. This table shows the breakdown.

CAR T-Cell Therapy Hospitals And Doctors In Singapore

In Singapore, CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia is being provided at the following facilities

• Centre for Clinical Haematology (CFCH)
• National Cancer Centre (NCC)
• Parkway Cancer Centre (PCC)
• Singapore General Hospital

CAR T-Cell Therapy For Leukemia At CFCH

Centre For Clinical Haematology is a prominent haematology centre in Asia. Its clinics at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre and Gleneagles Hospital provide CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia. The hospital has insurance partners for patients to cover their treatment expenses. Patients who have failed two lines of standard blood cancer treatment are eligible for this therapy.

• Lim Zi Yi – Dr. Yi is a senior consultant. He has expertise in Haemato-oncology and Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and CAR T-cell therapy. He has over 20 years of experience researching and working at various hematology centres in London and Singapore.
• Ng Chin Hin – Dr. Hin Leukaemia was the head of the National University Cancer Institute of Singapore and is now a senior consultant at CFCH. He has been developing novel blood cancer treatments for over 20 years.

Beat Leukemia With CAR T-Cell Therapy At National Cancer Centre

In Southeast Asia, Singapore’s National Cancer Center is a top choice for CAR T-cell therapy. The center conducts cutting-edge clinical trials in partnership with preeminent research institutions worldwide. With cutting-edge resources and a multispecialty group of professionals, the National Cancer Center is becoming the source of CAR T-cell therapy innovation.

The oncologists involved in this treatment here include:

• Assoc Prof Ravindran Kanesvaran – Dr. Kanesvaran is the chairman at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. He is an award-winning medical oncologist with a special interest in treating blood cancer through CAR T-cell therapy.
• Assoc Prof Tham Chee Kian – Dr. Kian treats brain, skin, and stomach malignancies. He is the deputy chairman of the Medical Oncology at the National Cancer Centre Singapore and a leading advocate for CAR T-cell therapy.
• Assoc Prof Ang Mei-Kim – Dr. Kiem is a senior consultant of the Medical Oncology division at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. She is involved in many ongoing clinical trials and research related to boosting outcomes using CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia.
• Asst Prof Chay Wen Yee – Dr. Yee is a senior medical oncologist at NCC and a consultant of the Department of Gynecological Oncology, KK Women and Children’s Hospital. She is supervising many trial and investigative projects on cancer treatments.

Parkway Cancer Centre For CAR T-Cell Therapy

Parkway Cancer Centre is the first private institution in Singapore to offer CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia. This innovative treatment has proven successful for patients whose remission rates range between 60–80%.

PCC started offering CAR T-cell after it received an approval from the Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA) under a new regulatory framework for Cell, Tissue, and Gene Therapy Products.

Patients are given personalized CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia. It is sometimes administered with allogeneic stem cell transplant for better outcomes at Parkway. The major medical oncologists involved in this treatment include:

• Ang Peng Tiam – Dr. Tiam is the medical director at PCC. He has three decades of experience in blood cancer care. He is one of the chief figures associated with CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia at Parkway.
• Khoo Kei Siong – He is the senior consultant and deputy medical director at PCC. Dr. Siong is a part of many medical organizations. These include the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the European Society of Medical Oncology.
• Teo Cheng Peng – Dr. Peng specializes in treating leukemia and stem cell transplants. He is the founder of the Stem Cell Transplant service in the National University Hospital. Currently, his research efforts are towards using CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia patients at Parkway.
• Dawn Mya Hae – Dr. Hae is the senior consultant at Parkway Cancer Centre. She specializes in treating blood diseases like leukemia and lymphoma. At Parkway, she is one of the top experts on using CAR T-cell therapy.

Beating Leukemia With CAR T-Cell Therapy At Singapore General Hospital

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for leukemia is available at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). It is provided in collaboration between Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, and SGH.

Mr. Tan Chee Mun was Singapore’s first patient to get this therapy. The hospital provides this therapy to leukemia patients who have already undergone standard treatments. The key medical oncologists involved in administering CAR T at SGH are:

• Nicholas Grigoropoulos – He is a senior consultant at Singapore General Hospital and specializes in treating blood cancers. He has been working for a long period at SGH to treat Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia with CAR T-cell therapy.
• Francesca Lorraine Lim – Dr. Lim is a senior consultant hematologist at SGH. She is the Chief Medical Officer at the Advanced Cell Therapy and Research Institute Singapore (ACTRIS). She has undergone extensive training in CAR T-cell therapy under Professor Katy Rezvani at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Cost Of CAR T-Cell Therapy In Spain

In Spain, CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia has an estimated cost of $2,86,840. Here’s its breakdown.

CAR T-Cell Therapy For Leukemia – Hospitals And Doctors In Spain

The novel CAR T-cell treatment for leukemia is available in the following hospitals in Spain.

• Hospital Clinic de Barcelona
• Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid
• Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona

Fighting Leukemia Successfully At Hospital Clinic de Barcelona

Hospital Clínic in Barcelona-IDIBAPS has shown that CAR T-cell therapy ARI0002h is effective for leukemia and multiple myeloma patients who are not responding to other treatments. Patients aged 25 years and older can get this therapy.

The ARI-0001 at Hospital Clinic de Barcelona is more cost-effective than commercially produced CAR T-cell therapies. Moreover, it has given complete responses in more than 70% of cases. The major doctors involved in providing it include;

• Carlos Fernández de Larrea – Dr. Larrea is an award-winning hematologist at the Hospital Clinic who has been participating actively in clinical trials for blood cancers. Dr. Larrea is also supervising the CAR T-cell therapy treatment at Hospital Clínic in Barcelona.
• Manel Juan – Dr. Juan is the head of the Immunology Service at the Hospital Clínic. He is a researcher in the fields of Immunogenetics and immunotherapy. Currently, he is developing CAR T-cell therapy to treat various types of blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.

Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid For CAR T-Cell Therapy

Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre in Madrid has also started providing CAR T-cell therapy for leukemia and large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Advanced CAR-T therapies are also given to patients who do not respond to chemotherapy or other treatments.

On October 12, 2022, this therapy was administered to several patients who achieved a complete positive response. They tested negative for the disease. Patients can use their insurance coverage to pay for this treatment. The following oncologists are administering this treatment at Hospital Universitario:

• Luis Paz-Ares – He is the head of the Medical Oncology Service at Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre. He is also a part of the Faculty of Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid. Dr. Ares has been acknowledged by Forbes for his efforts to improve cancer care in Spain.
• Luis Álvarez-Vallina – Dr. Vallina is a member of the Cancer Immunotherapy Unit at Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre. He has been studying and administering CAR T-cell therapy through trials.

CAR T-Cell Therapy For Leukemia At Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona

CAR T-cell therapy treatment for leukemia is available at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona. The hospital received 2.6 million euros for research into CAR-T cells. This shows how committed the hospital is to advance innovative treatment modalities.

A novel platform developed by Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) shows promise in producing superior CAR T-cell therapy. It is expected to reduce the production time significantly.

The major doctor involved in CAR T treatment at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital is Dr. Pere Barba. He is the director of the CAR-T Program at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. He has conducted many trials with this therapy on patients with blood cancer.