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Doctors at AIIMS, Delhi, are pioneering the development of a low-cost antibody-based adaptive cellular therapy to treat multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. This innovation aims to make advanced treatments such as CAR-T cell therapy more affordable and accessible for patients in India.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, a form of adaptive cellular therapy, involves isolating a patient’s T-cells, genetically modifying them, and reintroducing them into the body to target and destroy cancer cells. According to Dr Mayank Singh, Additional Professor in the Department of Medical Oncology at Dr B R Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (BRAIRCH) at AIIMS, the therapy focuses on B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) as a target, which is particularly effective in multiple myeloma cases.
“Our therapy recognises BCMA as a target on multiple myeloma cells to eliminate them,” Dr Singh explained, reported by PTI. The treatment has shown promising results in animal models, and researchers intend to advance to phase-1 clinical trials in humans to evaluate its safety and efficacy. A key objective is to reduce the therapy’s cost, which currently makes CAR-T treatments unaffordable for many patients.
Understanding Multiple Myeloma and Cancer Therapies
Cancer, a life-threatening disease marked by the uncontrolled proliferation of cancerous cells, arises from mutations in a single cell that result in rapid growth and deprivation of nutrients to normal cells. In multiple myeloma, plasma cells—a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies—become cancerous, proliferating in the bone marrow and crowding out healthy blood-forming cells. This cancer type is particularly challenging due to its propensity for relapse.
Traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, target rapidly dividing cells but also harm normal cells, leading to severe side effects. In recent decades, targeted therapies have emerged, exploiting cancer cells’ unique vulnerabilities. However, these therapies often face the challenge of cancer cells developing resistance, causing relapses.
The past decade has seen immunotherapy rise as a cornerstone of cancer treatment, including monoclonal antibodies designed to specifically target cancer cells. In some cases, these antibodies are loaded with chemotherapeutic agents for precise drug delivery, reducing off-target effects and enhancing effectiveness.
“Antibody-based therapies, including cellular CAR-T therapies, represent a new era in cancer treatment. However, these therapies remain prohibitively expensive, putting them beyond the reach of most patients in countries like India,” Dr Singh said.
Addressing India’s Cancer Burden
India reported 14,61,427 estimated cancer cases in 2022, with one in nine individuals expected to develop cancer during their lifetime, according to the National Cancer Registry. Limited access to advanced therapies and delayed diagnoses contribute significantly to the nation’s growing health burden, which is expected to rise exponentially in the coming decade.
According to PTI, the AIIMS research team, led by Dr Singh, has filed an Indian patent for their antibody and is in the process of filing a patent for their CAR-T cell therapy. “CAR-T therapies have revolutionised cancer treatment worldwide, but in India, their development is still at a nascent stage,” he noted.
This development marks a crucial step towards making cutting-edge cancer treatments more accessible and affordable, offering hope to thousands of patients in India.
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