UAE to test effectiveness of CAR T-cell therapy for treating blood cancers

Abu Dhabi - CAR T-cell therapy harnesses the body’s defence system by reprogramming T-cells to go on search-and-destroy missions to kill cancer

A leading research institute in Abu Dhabi will become the first in the region to locally manufacture and test the safety and effectiveness of an immunotherapy for treating blood cancers, such as myeloma, lymphoma and certain forms of leukaemia.

Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) on Thursday announced that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a new, internationally recognised form of immunotherapy.

CAR T-cell therapy harnesses the body’s defence system by reprogramming T-cells, a crucial component in the body’s anti-tumour response, to go on search-and-destroy missions to kill cancer.

These reprogrammed cells become a living drug that mobilises through the body, continually tapping the immune system to attack disease.

Explaining the significance of the clinical trial, Dr Fatema Al Kaabi, director of the Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Programme (AD-BMT) and co-principal investigator of the CAR T-cell clinical trial, said: “We are proud to be the first in the UAE and region to locally manufacture this new and innovative treatment in its entirety and conduct research to better understand the effects it has on tumour cells."

"As a local research institute, we are committed to contributing to Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a knowledge-based economy and we continue to invest in cutting-edge research, homegrown, to ensure the people of the UAE and beyond get the best care possible."

Developed in partnership with biomedical research firm Miltenyi Biotec, the CAR T-cell therapy involves the use of apheresis — a minimally invasive blood donation process that separates blood components for analysis and treatment.

A genetic modification is then performed on the T-cell, a type of white blood cell, to attack only the identified tumour cells for each patient.

Dr Yendry Ventura Carmenate, immunology specialist, general manager of ADSCC and principal investigator of the CAR T-cell clinical trial, said: “Cancer treatment continues to be one of the world’s most complex and challenging medical journeys, which emphasizes the growing need for locally generated research and therapeutic innovations."

ismail@khaleejtimes.com