CAR-T Cell Therapy

Context:The commercial use of Indigenous CAR-T cell therapy (NexCAR19) is now possible, and the first patient who received this treatment has been declared free of cancer.

Key Points:

• NexCAR19, a groundbreaking therapy specifically designed for the treatment of B-cell cancers, which are cancers that originate from the cells of the immune system, including leukaemia and lymphoma, has been developed through a collaborative effort between Immune ACT, a company that was nurtured at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), and Tata Memorial Hospital.
• This remarkable achievement in medical research and development has been acknowledged and endorsed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), granting its approval for the therapy to be used commercially.

Details CAR-T Cell Therapy:

• NexCAR19, a therapy developed in-house, is specifically designed to effectively treat B-cell cancers, including leukaemia and lymphoma, by targeting the cells within the immune system.
• This groundbreaking therapy is the result of a collaborative effort between Immune ACT, a company incubated at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), IIT-B, and Tata Memorial Hospital.
• After their reintroduction, such genetically modified cells specific to how it handles with recognition and attempted B-cell cancers.
• The specificity of this targeted approach provides highly potent immunotherapy that fights these cancers, a new hope for patients suffering from such tumours.
• CAR T Cell therapy is a groundbreaking breakthrough in the field of cancer treatment, as it utilizes the body’s own immune defences against malignancy.
• They are so dubbed ‘living drug’ as CAR-T cells recognize and eliminate malignant cells on their own accord.
• At its core, CAR T Cell therapy reprograms a certain type of immune cell called the T-cell which is derived from the bloodstream.
• Through genetic modification, these T-cells are reengineered to kill the surface proteins which can be found on cancer cells.
• The procedure consists in isolating T-cells from a patient and their genetic engineering to imbue such cells with the ability of fighting tumours, so it becomes CAR(T)-agent
• Chimera antigen receptors are bacterial protein molecules that recognize red blood cells and so genetically engineered T-cells with modified CAR, show affinity only to cancer signals.
• After this alteration, the CAR-T cells are cell cultured and multiplied in conjunction with an efficient laboratory environment before being reintroduced to the patient’s body system.

Advantages CAR T Cell therapy:

• CAR-T cell therapy improves the immune system’s ability to recognize and eliminate damaged or infected cells, including cancer cells.
• It reduces the need for aggressive treatments like chemotherapy and bone transplantation.
• The indigenous CAR-T cell therapy is more affordable, bringing down treatment costs significantly.
• Studies have shown a high success rate, with 9 out of 10 people with leukaemia achieving complete remission with this therapy.
• Remission indicates that the cancer cannot be detected in tests.

Source: Indian Express

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