CAR T-CELL THERAPY

PRELIMS BITS 

CAR T-cell therapy is a groundbreaking form of immunotherapy that utilizes the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, specifically blood cancers. This therapy is designed to genetically engineer T-cells (a type of white blood cell) to target and attack cancer cells more effectively.

How CAR T-cell Therapy Works:

1. Extraction: T-cells are extracted from the patient’s blood.
2. Genetic Engineering: In the laboratory, the T-cells are modified by adding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) gene.
   • CAR is a synthetic receptor that allows the T-cells to recognize and bind to a specific protein present on the surface of cancer cells.
3. Reintroduction: The engineered CAR T-cells are then multiplied and infused back into the patient’s body to target and destroy cancer cells more effectively.

Significance of CAR T-cell Therapy:

• Personalized Treatment: Since the therapy uses the patient’s own cells, it is highly personalized, making it more effective and reducing the risk of rejection.
• Precision Targeting: The modified T-cells can specifically target cancer cells, leading to less damage to healthy cells compared to traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy.

Qartemi: India’s Second Living Drug:

Recently, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in India approved Qartemi, a CAR T-cell therapy for treating blood cancer. This approval marks India’s second living drug—a type of treatment that involves modifying a patient’s own cells before reintroducing them into the body. This form of therapy represents a major advancement in cancer treatment.

Living drugs like Qartemi offer hope for patients with blood cancer, as they harness the power of the body’s immune system in a highly targeted and personalized manner.