Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem has achieved a groundbreaking feat in the treatment of multiple myeloma, meaning the second-most common blood cancer. Through an innovative approach utilizing CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell) therapy, which enhances the immune system of the patient to fight cancer, the treatment has shown remarkable success. According to The Jerusalem Post, over 90% of the 74 patients treated at Hadassah entered complete remission.
The treatment was developed over years of experimentation. It now represents strong hope for patients who previously faced a dire prognosis. The complexity of production and treatment limits availability, as only one patient per week currently undergoes experimental therapy.
Prof. Polina Stepansky explained as The Jerusalem Post quotes:
We have evidence of a very positive overall response rate with minimal side effects, and they are mild,
These are dramatic results. This is a huge hope for patients with a disease that has not yet had a cure.
The scientist also explained, as the same source quotes:
Moreover, Hadassah developed a more sophisticated and advanced treatment than that offered in the world. As the first and only institution in Israel that develops, manufactures and delivers CAR-T treatment, Hadassah is actually leading the field that will enable the development of future treatments with CAR T cells for the benefit of patients with other types of cancer.
Plans are underway to provide the treatment in the United States and potentially gain commercial approval within a year. The breakthrough represents a significant advancement in oncology research, as it offers new possibilities in the fight against blood cancer.
It’s important to keep in mind that the treatment in question remains at an experimental level.
There are many types of cancer out there in the world, as the disease can affect various organs and tissues in the human body. Cancer can be categorized into broad groups based on the organ or tissue of origin, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and leukemia, just to name a few.
