Woman gets rid of untreatable Lymphoma with CAR-T Cell therapy–Know all about this cancer treatment – News Healthcare

A 47-year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam has triumphed over cancer after undergoing CAR-T Cell Therapy at Apollo Cancer Centre, Visakhapatnam. The woman, Reddi Lalitha Kumari from Bobbili town in Vizianagaram district was diagnosed with refractory diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Refractory disease means the patient’s disease stopped responding to all the conventional treatment options available. A math teacher at a high school, her cancer staged a fierce comeback, defying all standard therapies.

The team led by Dr. Rakesh Reddy Boya, Senior Consultant – Medical & Hemato Oncology, Dr. Ventrapati Pradeep, Consultant – Medical Oncology, and Dr. G Veni Prasanna, Consultant – Pathologist, explored advanced treatment options.

According to Dr Boya, Lalitha’s case required a different approach due to the refractory nature of the disease and CAR-T Cell Therapy emerged as a viable option, offering a chance to be “cancer free.”

“Following Lalitha’s initial response to R-CHOP therapy, her relapse posed a formidable challenge. Through strategic intervention and the integration of salvage chemotherapy, including R-ICE, we achieved a remarkable complete response. It was through meticulous analysis, collaboration, and unwavering determination that we charted a path towards her recovery. This victory reinforces our commitment to pushing the boundaries of cancer care and providing hope to those in need. Although the road to recovery was arduous but her unwavering determination and the relentless pursuit of excellence by the medical team, helped her to win over cancer,” Dr. Boya said during the press conference today.

Following the CAR-T Cell therapy, Lalitha’s cancer led to complete remission, the doctors claimed.

“The most incredible news was hearing from the doctors – I am cancer-free. Being a maths teacher, I always believe that every problem has a solution and in my case, I got the right treatment at Apollo Cancer Centre. This treatment has given me a second lease of life, and I’m incredibly grateful to the team at ACC for their expertise and unfaltering support,” she told reporters.

According to Dr. Ventrapati Pradeep, Consultant – Medical Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre, Vizag, her case demanded innovative thinking and a collaborative approach.

“Through our collective expertise and determination, we were able to navigate the complexities of her condition and offer a novel solution. Ms Lalitha’s journey has been both challenging and inspiring,” Dr. Pradeep said.

CAR-T Cell therapy is a type of cancer immunotherapy treatment that uses genetically altered immune cells, called T cells, to enable them in locating in destroying cancer cells more effectively. Currently, CAR T therapy is FDA-approved to treat several types of hematological malignancies, including: Leukemia, Lymphoma and Multiple myeloma.

In October 2023, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), made NexCAR19 India’s first approved CAR-T cell therapy. It is developed by IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Centre and ImmunoACT.