Medical Trust Hospital
CAR T Cell Therapy
In the rapidly evolving field of oncology, few breakthroughs have generated as much excitement and hope as Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy—an innovative treatment often dubbed a “living drug.” This cutting-edge immunotherapy is not just a new class of treatment; it represents a fundamental shift in how we think about fighting cancer—by empowering the body’s own immune system to destroy malignant cells.
While the science behind it is complex, this article aims to explain CAR T cell therapy in a way that is clear and accessible to the general public.
CAR T Cell Therapy
CAR T cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy — a treatment that uses the immune system to fight diseases like cancer. “CAR” stands for Chimeric Antigen Receptor, a specially designed receptor that is added to a patient’s T cells. T cells are a type of white blood cell that normally helps the body fight infections.
With CAR T cell therapy, doctors take a patient’s own T cells, reprogram them in a lab to recognize cancer cells, and then put them back into the patient’s body. Once inside, these modified T cells can find and kill cancer cells with precision.
The treatment process usually involves several steps:
Collecting T Cells: Blood is taken from the patient, and T cells are separated out.
Engineering the T Cells: In a lab, the T cells are genetically modified to produce CARs (chimeric
antigen receptors). These new receptors help the T cells recognize cancer cells more easily.
Multiplying the T Cells: The modified cells are grown and multiplied until there are millions of
them.
Infusing the Cells: The patient is given a short course of chemotherapy to weaken their existing
immune system, then the engineered T cells are infused back into the bloodstream.
Fighting Cancer: Once in the body, the CAR T cells seek out and destroy cancer cells.
Currently, CAR T cell therapy has been approved for certain types of blood cancers, including:
Researchers are working hard to expand its use to solid tumors like breast, lung, or colon cancer, but this remains a challenge.
Year Of Experience
CAR T cells are specifically trained to recognize cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy cells.
In some patients, CAR T cells remain in the body and continue to guard against cancer returning.
It offers hope to patients who have not responded to traditional treatments like chemotherapy or radiation.
Side Effects
Like many powerful treatments, CAR T therapy is not without risks. Common side effects include:
A strong immune response that can cause fever, low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing.
Confusion, tremors, or seizures can occur in some patients.
Because the immune system is affected, patients may be more vulnerable to infections.
Doctors monitor patients closely and have treatments ready to manage these side effects if they occur.
CAR T-cell therapy is now accessible at numerous advanced cancer centers worldwide. Medical Trust Hospital, Kochi, is a pioneering center in South India, distinguished for its successful implementation of this innovative treatment. Our state-of-the-art CAR-T cell therapy unit is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge cellular therapy.
CAR T cell therapy is a shining example of personalized medicine — a treatment tailored to a patient’s own body. As research continues, scientists hope to improve its safety, expand its use to more cancers, and even combine it with other therapies for better results.
CAR T cell therapy represents a new era in cancer treatment, offering real hope for patients with few other options. While it’s not a cure-all and still has challenges to overcome, its success so far is a powerful reminder of what science and innovation can achieve.
If you or someone you know is battling cancer, especially certain types of leukemia or lymphoma, it may be worth discussing CAR T cell therapy with a medical professional. As knowledge spreads and access improves, this therapy has the potential to save many more lives.
