A major medical advancement has taken place at MGM Medical College’s Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital (MYH) with the introduction of CAR T-cell therapy, an advanced treatment for blood cancer.
“This groundbreaking therapy, which was previously available only in select advanced medical centers around the world, is now accessible to patients in Central India,” stated Dr. Ashok Yadav, Superintendent of MYH. He explained that CAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy where a patient’s T-cells are genetically modified to target and eliminate cancer cells.
To create CAR T-cells, T-cells—a type of white blood cell—are extracted from the patient’s blood, modified in a lab to express a specific antigen receptor, and then reinfused into the patient. These enhanced T-cells are programmed to recognize and attack cancer cells, particularly those linked to leukemia and lymphoma
As reported by economictimes, Dr. Yadav highlighted that the Transfusion Medicine Department and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at MGM Medical College recently began CAR T-cell therapy for a patient diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), marking a significant milestone in cancer treatment within India.
“The procedure involves collecting the patient’s white blood cells, genetically altering them, and reinfusing them back into the patient,” he added.
He also noted that the institute is the first government-run medical college to provide this facility. “While the treatment can cost as much as Rs 4 crore in the United States, the institution is offering it at a significantly reduced rate of around Rs 20-30 lakh, making it more affordable and accessible to a wider range of patients,” Dr. Yadav said.