Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is one of the fastest-growing blood cancers in young adults. It affects lymphoblasts (white blood cells) and is common among children and young adults.
Currently, India is experiencing a silent endemic of ALL, with the majority being undiagnosed, especially among young adults aged 18 to 40 years.
Treatment for ALL is challenging due to the disease's biology, treatment-related toxicities, and psychological issues.
The prevalence rate of ALL relapse among young adults is higher than other subtypes.
Disease biology and its subtypes, like Philadelphia chromosome ALL, have very poor outcomes.
Long-term hospital admissions and regular chemotherapy weaken the body, which is troublesome for patient care and increases the chances of hospital-acquired infections.
Many Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia patients don’t find suitable donors for bone marrow transplantation.
Even after chemotherapy, many face relapse after months of therapy, which is very costly.
CAR-T therapy stands for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy, which is a revolutionary treatment for patients,
where their own immune cells (T-cells) are collected, modified,
and reprogrammed in a lab to attack cancer cells, then infused back into the patient's body to destroy leukemia cells.
It is like retraining the immune system to fight cancer cells smarter and stronger.
CAR-T therapy is the treatment of choice, especially for young adults with treatment-resistant B-cell ALL or relapse when chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant have failed or aren’t possible.
It gives hope to patients even after failed chemotherapy. It is ideal for patients with ALL relapse, Compared to bone marrow transplantation, it is less invasive.
CAR-T therapy can lead to complete remission of cancer. It has fewer complications compared to other therapies like radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Will CAR-T therapy help more people in India?
Yes, India is entering a clinical trial era for CAR-T therapy. Clinical trials are underway at institutes like Tata Memorial Hospital, AIIMS, and ACTREC.
However, it remains expensive and is limited to large cancer centers.
Soon, it may become accessible to patients in need.
CAR-T therapy represents a breakthrough in the fight against leukemia, especially in young adults who have run out of options.
It’s a new beginning and a smarter way to treat cancer patients.
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