Patient Education

Lymphoma, a type of white blood cell cancer that affects the lymphatic system, has seen remarkable advancements in treatment. One promising approach is CAR T-Cell therapy, which taps into the power of our immune system to target and combat cancer cells. Let's delve into the details if you're curious about this innovative therapy and its potential benefits.

What Is CAR T-Cell Therapy?

Immunotherapy revolutionises cancer treatment by leveraging the body's immune system against cancer cells. CAR T-Cell therapy, short for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is an exciting branch of immunotherapy. This technique involves modifying a patient's immune cells, known as T cells, to create chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). These receptors are designed to specifically recognise antigens present on the surface of lymphoma cells. After genetic modification and expansion in the laboratory, these CAR T cells are infused back into the patient. Once inside, they multiply and launch a targeted attack on the lymphoma cells. This approach holds great promise for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has relapsed or proven resistant to other treatments.

How Do I Know If I Am Eligible For CAR T-Cell Therapy?

The approval of CAR T-Cell therapy by health authorities like the Food and Drug Authorities (FDA) (National Cancer Institute, 2022) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) (Novartis, 2021) brings hope to individuals with certain haematological malignancies including acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, B cell lymphomas and multiple myeloma. In Singapore, the CAR T-cell therapy known as tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) is currently approved for young adults (< 25 years) with relapsed/refractory acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) and adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta) is also approved in Singapore for Replapsed DLBCL. This groundbreaking therapy offers a new ray of hope for patients who were once limited in treatment options.

How Effective Is Car T-Cell Therapy?

Patients with DLBCL often respond to standard treatments, but relapses can be challenging. Among those who do relapse, up to 50% may face a more difficult scenario - their cancer might become refractory to salvage therapies, resulting in outcomes that are far from optimal. CAR T-cell therapy offers an alternative form of treatment for such patients with a response rate of up to 80% and complete response of 65% (Lim & Chen, 2021).

CAR T-Cell therapy also has led to remarkable and sustained tumour responses in a subset of patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphomas. The therapy's success is particularly pronounced in patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL), boasting complete response rates between 70% and 94% across various trials (Hayes, 2020). However, while the treatment offers a significant breakthrough, it's important to note that it's not a guaranteed solution. Consulting leading cancer doctors in Singapore can provide personalised insights tailored to individual cases.

Furthermore, it's encouraging to know that some patients have been covered by their health insurance for CAR T-Cell therapy. If you're considering this option, it's advisable to speak with your insurance provider to understand the extent of coverage.

Connect with OncoCare For Personalised Guidance

When dealing with lymphoma, understanding your treatment options is essential. If you or your loved one is navigating the journey of lymphoma treatment in Singapore, consider reaching out to the experienced doctors at OncoCare. Your journey toward lymphoma treatment deserves expert guidance and individualised attention. Speak to the experienced cancer specialists at OncoCare to explore the best treatment pathway for you or your family member. Their knowledge and commitment ensure you receive the care and information you need to make informed decisions. To understand more about how your health insurance may cover lymphoma treatments, visit our insurance enquiries page.

Reach out today to take a step towards effective lymphoma treatment and improved well-being.

“Expert knowledge means better care for cancer”

Written by:

Dr Kevin Tay

MBBS (Singapore)

ABIM Int. Med (USA)

ABIM Med Onc (USA)

FAMS (Medical Oncology)

Citations

Hayes, C. (2020). Cellular immunotherapies for cancer. Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -), 190(1), 41–57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-020-02264-w

Lim, F., &amp; Chen, Y. (2021). News. A New Approach to Treating Cancer – Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Immunotherapy | SingHealth. https://www.healthxchange.sg/news/a-new-approach-to-treating-cancer-chimeric-antigen-receptor-car-t-cell-immunotherapy

National Cancer Institute. (2022, March 10). Car T cells: Engineering immune cells to treat cancer. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/research/car-t-cells

Novartis. (2021, March 9). Novartis receives approval for Kymriah® (TISAGENLECLEUCEL) by Health Sciences Authority as Singapore’s first commercially approved CAR-T therapy. Novartis Singapore. https://www.novartis.com/sg-en/news/media-releases/novartis-receives-approval-kymriah-tisagenlecleucel-health-sciences-authority-singapores-first-commercially-approved-car-t-therapy