CAR T-Cell Therapy in Gurugram: A New Approach to Treating Certain Blood Cancers
CAR T-cell therapy is an advanced form of immunotherapy used for selected patients with certain blood cancers, particularly when the disease has returned or has not responded adequately to previous treatment.
For a patient or family dealing with relapsed leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma, hearing about CAR T-cell therapy often brings many questions: Is it suitable for me? How does it work? Is it different from chemotherapy? What are the risks?
The most important point is that CAR T-cell therapy is not the right treatment for every blood cancer patient. The decision requires careful evaluation by a hematologist or haemato-oncologist who understands the disease, previous treatments and the patient’s overall medical condition.
What Is CAR T-Cell Therapy?
CAR stands for Chimeric Antigen Receptor.
Our immune system contains T cells, which help identify and fight abnormal cells. In CAR T-cell therapy, some of the patient’s T cells are collected from the blood and modified in a specialised laboratory.
The modified T cells are given a new receptor—the chimeric antigen receptor—which helps them recognise a particular protein or antigen present on certain cancer cells.
These specially prepared CAR T cells are multiplied and infused back into the patient. Once inside the body, they can recognise cells carrying the target antigen and mount an immune attack against them.
Which Blood Cancers Can Be Treated With CAR T-Cell Therapy?
CAR T-cell therapy has shown its most established role in certain haematological malignancies, especially selected types of:
B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL)
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Other selected B-cell lymphomas
Multiple myeloma
Different CAR T-cell products target different cancer-associated proteins. For example, several CAR T therapies used in B-cell malignancies target CD19, while CAR T-cell therapies used in multiple myeloma may target BCMA.
Importantly, having one of these cancers does not automatically make someone eligible for CAR T-cell therapy.
When Do We Consider CAR T-Cell Therapy?
In clinical practice, the question is not simply, “Can CAR T treat this cancer?”
The better question is, “Is CAR T the appropriate treatment for this patient at this stage of the disease?”
It may be considered in selected patients whose cancer is:
Relapsed: The disease initially responded to treatment but later returned.
Refractory: The cancer did not respond adequately to previous treatment or progressed despite therapy.
Treatment decisions can depend on several factors, including the exact diagnosis, molecular or antigen characteristics of the cancer, previous chemotherapy or targeted therapy, previous bone marrow transplant, disease burden, active infections and the functioning of major organs.
This is why a detailed hematology assessment is essential before discussing CAR T-cell therapy as the next treatment option.
How Is CAR T-Cell Therapy Done?
The treatment is a multi-step process rather than a single injection.
1. Detailed Evaluation
The patient’s medical history, pathology, previous treatments, scans and laboratory reports are reviewed. Additional investigations may be required to understand whether CAR T-cell therapy is appropriate and whether the patient is medically fit for treatment.
2. Collection of T Cells
The patient's white blood cells are collected through a procedure called leukapheresis. T cells are separated from the collected cells.
3. CAR T-Cell Manufacturing
The T cells are sent for specialised processing. They are genetically modified so that they express the required chimeric antigen receptor and are then expanded to create the required number of CAR T cells.
4. Preparation Before Infusion
Patients generally receive a short course of lymphodepleting chemotherapy before the CAR T-cell infusion. This helps create an environment in which the infused CAR T cells can expand and function effectively.
5. CAR T-Cell Infusion
The prepared CAR T cells are infused into the patient's bloodstream.
6. Monitoring After Treatment
The period following the infusion is particularly important. Patients need close medical monitoring because the activated immune cells can produce significant reactions.
What Are the Possible Side Effects of CAR T-Cell Therapy?
CAR T-cell therapy can produce strong immune activity, which is part of the reason it requires treatment and monitoring by an experienced multidisciplinary team.
One of the important complications is Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS).
CAR T cells can release inflammatory signals known as cytokines after becoming activated. CRS may cause symptoms such as fever and low blood pressure and can become serious in some patients.
Another recognised complication is Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS), which can affect the nervous system.
Patients can also develop low blood counts, infections and other treatment-related complications. Long-term follow-up is important as well. Regulatory guidance has highlighted the need for continued monitoring for secondary malignancies after certain genetically modified autologous CAR T-cell therapies.
These risks should not create unnecessary fear, but they should also never be underplayed. Good CAR T-cell care depends as much on recognising and managing complications promptly as it does on delivering the therapy itself.
Is CAR T-Cell Therapy Available in India?
Yes. CAR T-cell therapy is available in India for selected patients with certain blood cancers, including specific types of leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
However, CAR T-cell therapy is a highly specialised treatment and is not suitable for every patient. Eligibility depends on the exact type of blood cancer, stage and status of the disease, previous treatments, overall health and several other clinical factors.
Dr. Gaurav Dixit, an experienced Hematologist and Haemato-Oncologist in Gurugram, evaluates patients with complex and relapsed blood cancers to determine whether CAR T-cell therapy may be an appropriate treatment option.
The treatment journey requires careful patient selection, detailed pre-treatment assessment, specialised planning and close monitoring before and after CAR T-cell infusion.
If you or a family member is exploring CAR T-cell therapy in India, a detailed consultation with Dr. Gaurav Dixit can help you understand whether this advanced cellular therapy is suitable for your condition and what other treatment options may also be considered.
CAR T-Cell Therapy Consultation in Gurugram
For patients exploring CAR T-cell therapy in Gurugram, or India, the first step should be a detailed review of the disease rather than immediately deciding on a particular treatment.
Dr. Gaurav Dixit, specialises in Haemato-Oncology and the management of blood cancers and complex haematological conditions.
During a CAR T-cell therapy consultation, the aim is to understand:
What is the exact blood cancer diagnosis?
Has the disease relapsed or become refractory?
Which treatments have already been used?
Is there an appropriate CAR T-cell target?
Is CAR T-cell therapy indicated at this stage?
Are there alternative treatment options?
What preparation and monitoring would be required?
Every patient's treatment journey is different. The objective is not to recommend the newest treatment simply because it is available, but to identify the most appropriate evidence-based treatment for the individual patient.
How do I know whether CAR T-cell therapy is suitable for me?
The safest way to answer this is through a detailed consultation with a hematologist or haemato-oncologist. Your diagnosis, pathology, previous treatments, current disease status and overall health all need to be considered before deciding whether CAR T-cell therapy is appropriate.
Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. Gaurav Dixit
Head – Haemato-Oncology
MBBS | MD (General Medicine) | DM (Clinical Haematology)
Gurugram, India
This page is intended for patient education. Treatment recommendations should always be made after individual medical evaluation.