New Delhi: AIIMS researchers claim to have made significant progress in developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, targeting specific tumour antigens for treatment of multiple myeloma, a variant of blood cancer. Initial animal trials have shown promising outcomes in the test subjects.
CAR T-cell therapy, a cancer immunotherapy treatment for multiple myeloma, utilises cell-base. gene therapy where a patient’s T cells undergo genetic modification to enhance cancer cell identification and elimination.
“Conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy historically targeted the fast-dividing cells. However, this strategy also affected normal cells undergoing division, causing significant toxicity and severe side-effects that can sometimes result in fatal outcomes,” said additional prof Mayank Singh in medical oncology lab, Dr B R Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (BRAIRCH), AIIMS.
While FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapies targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) exist for treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, Indian patients lack access due to prohibitive costs and limited availability.
Although AIIMS researchers have developed the advanced therapy, clinical validation is yet to be done. Successful clinical trials at AIIMS Delhi could provide affordable, lasting treatment options for patients who have exhausted other alternatives.
According to healthcare professionals, immunotherapy has emerged as a vital element in cancer treatment over the past decade, particularly using monoclonal antibodies. Traditional approaches combine chemotherapy drugs with these antibodies for precise delivery, reducing side-effects while improving effectiveness.
Despite revolutionising cancer treatment through antibody-based therapies and cellular CAR T-cell treatments, high costs limit accessibility in countries like India.
According to recent national cancer registry data, India recorded an estimated 14.6 lakh new cancer cases in 2022. Additionally, one in nine is at risk of developing cancer during their lifetime. AIIMS receives about 100 multiple myeloma cases monthly.
Doctors said the problem of delayed diagnosis, combined with limited access to world-class therapies, is bound to create a significant health burden on India, as cases are expected to rise exponentially in the coming decade.
Prof Mayank Singh of BRAIRCH, AIIMS, explained their research on Indian multiple myeloma patients to understand the BCMA sequence, acknowledged as a dependable molecular target for multiple myeloma treatment. The study was undertaken jointly with Prof Kalpana Luthra from the department of biochemistry, AIIMS; Prof Sujata Mohanty ORBO; and Dr Ranji Sahoo from the department of medical oncology. The collaborative effort resulted in successful cancer antigen synthesis and purification, leading to development of novel anti-BCMA antibody components that show considerable potential.
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