AIIMS researchers achieve breakthrough in blood cancer treatment with promising CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma

AIIMS researchers have made significant strides in developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy targeting specific tumor antigens for treating multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. Early animal trials have yielded promising results.

CAR T-cell therapy, a cutting-edge cancer immunotherapy, involves genetically modifying a patient’s T cells to enhance their ability to recognize and eliminate cancer cells.

“Conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy target rapidly dividing cells, but they also affect healthy cells undergoing division, causing severe side effects and sometimes fatal complications,” said Dr. Mayank Singh, Additional Professor at the 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) are available for treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, their high costs and limited availability make them inaccessible to many Indian patients.

Though AIIMS researchers have successfully developed the advanced therapy, clinical trials are still pending. If successful, these trials could pave the way for more affordable and long-lasting treatment options for patients who have exhausted other therapies.

Healthcare professionals note that immunotherapy has become a crucial component of cancer treatment over the past decade, particularly with the use of monoclonal antibodies. Combining chemotherapy with these antibodies has improved precision, reduced side effects, and enhanced treatment effectiveness.