By: Dr Abhishek Charan – Consultant Medical Oncologist, HCG Cancer Centre, Jaipur,
Blood cancers—including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma—pose a growing health challenge in India. These cancers affect the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system, disrupting essential immune functions. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India records over 100,000 new blood cancer cases annually. Alarmingly, many of these cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, often due to limited awareness, stigma, and barriers to early detection. Traditional treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplants have long been standard care, but they don’t always work—especially in advanced or recurring cases. That’s where a new, cutting-edge approach known as CAR-T cell therapy is making headlines.
Blood Cancer in India: Where We Stand
Blood cancers account for approximately 8% of all cancer cases in India, making them a significant public health issue. Early diagnosis and access to specialised care remain major hurdles, particularly in rural areas. While conventional therapies remain life-saving for many, they come with challenges—long treatment durations, debilitating side effects, and the risk of relapse.
Enter CAR-T cell therapy, a promising new treatment that is redefining possibilities for patients with relapsed or refractory blood cancers, particularly in:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- Multiple myeloma
These are all cancers that, when resistant to traditional approaches, leave patients with limited options—until now.
Understanding CAR-T Cell Therapy
CAR-T cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy that harnesses the power of the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. The process involves:
- Collecting the patient’s T cells (a kind of white blood cell).
- Reprogramming them in a lab by adding a special receptor called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), which allows the T cells to better recognize and destroy cancer cells.
- Multiplying the modified cells.
- Infusing them back into the patient’s body, where they seek out and attack cancer cells with precision.
What makes CAR-T unique is its personalised, one-time approach, and its ability to produce long-term remission—even in patients who have failed multiple prior treatments.
Why It’s a Game-Changer
CAR-T cell therapy offers multiple advantages:
- Tailored treatment: It uses the patient’s own immune cells, reducing the risk of rejection or severe immune responses.
- Breakthrough success rates: Studies show remission rates of up to 90% in children and young adults with relapsed ALL.
- Durable outcomes: Some patients have remained cancer-free for years post-treatment, suggesting potential cures in select cases.
- Better quality of life: CAR-T requires fewer hospital visits compared to traditional treatments, and side effects, while serious, can often be managed with prompt care.
Looking Ahead
Though CAR-T therapy is still in its early stages in India and not yet widely accessible, efforts are underway to make it more available through clinical trials, indigenous development, and collaborations with global biotech firms. As awareness grows and infrastructure improves, CAR-T could soon become a transformative option in India’s cancer care toolkit.
In a country where the burden of blood cancers is rising and treatment gaps remain, CAR-T therapy offers not just a new treatment—but a new sense of hope.
