Kauvery Hospital gets advanced immunotherapy for hard-to-treat blood cancers
Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet, has introduced Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for cancer treatment.
CAR-T therapy is primarily used to treat conditions such as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, especially in those who have not responded to standard treatments. The advanced immunotherapy for specific types of blood cancer is available at only a few centres in India.
At a press conference on Thursday, doctors said CAR-T therapy involved modifying a patient's own immune cells (T-cells) to better recognise and attack cancer cells. Once reengineered in a lab, the cells are infused back into the patient, where they target and destroy cancer cells, offering a more personalised and targeted treatment option.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, India sees over 1.4 million new cancer cases annually, with blood cancers forming a significant proportion. CAR-T therapy is emerging as a vital option when chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants fail.
Anitha Ramesh, consultant, medical oncologist at the hospital, said CAR-T therapy would have to be done only for patients for whom chemotherapy had not worked. The patient's blood will be collected and sent to ImmunoACT, a biomedical research facility in Mumbai, where the T-cells will be genetically engineered. After 19 days, the modified cells will be returned and infused back into the patient, she said.
Hasmukh Jain, professor, medical oncologist, Tata Memorial Centre; Shirish Arya, CEO, ImmunoACT; A. N. Vaidhyswaran, director of radiation oncology, Kauvery Hospital, Alwarpet, Suresh Kumar, consultant, medical oncologist; and Arshad Raja, consultant oncologist, were present.
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The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
As COVID-19 cases register an uptick in India, a look at the vaccine stock position
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We have done this before and there is no need to panic,' he said, reiterating that as of now there was no need for individuals to rush in to get a booster vaccine. Since vaccines used in 2021 and 2022 have now fallen into disuse and expired, there are no stocks at present, a government official said, adding however that the government could direct manufacturers to produce more stocks as and when necessary. Most States, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal have no stocks or supplies of the vaccine at present either in the government or private sector. Understanding the variants driving the spike As of now, the variants of Covid-19 doing the rounds in India are descendants of the Omicron variant, first reported in November 2021. The emerging sub-variants - NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 - that are driving the current COVID surge are descendants of JN.1, a sub-lineage of the Omicron BA.2.86 variant. 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Aravind, head of infectious diseases, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. As the virus continues to adapt, so must we, as Dr. Bardhan pointed out. Staying informed and following trusted health sources, personal protection and hygiene measures such as hand washing, avoiding crowded places when possible or masking up, refraining from going outdoors when ill and maintaining a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle could all help navigate this phase and any more to come. (With inputs from C. Maya in Kerala, Serena Josephine M. in Chennai, Bindu Shajan Perappadan in Delhi, Afshan Yasmeen in Bengaluru, Shrabana Chatterjee in Kolkata and Siddharth Kumar Singh in Hyderabad.)
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
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NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
Covid-19 In India: Do's And Don'ts To Stay Safe
India recorded 564 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The total number of active Covid-19 cases stands at 4,866 as of Thursday morning, with Kerala remaining the most affected State, followed by Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi, according to the Union Health Ministry data. At least 7 deaths were reported during the current resurgence of Covid-19 infection. No need to panic, said experts Doctors and health officials in India and across the world have said that the new Covid variants are not serious threats but are spreading faster. Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Dr Rajiv Behl also said that the severity of infections is currently generally mild and there is no cause for worry. He also mentioned that Omicron Sub-variants LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB. 1.8.1 are currently circulating and are not severe. Why should you do? As cases are rising rapidly in India, it is important for all to follow safety precautions that can help you stay safe. Here are some government guidelines you should follow: Do's Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol. Wear a mask Cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief/tissue while sneezing and coughing. Throw used tissues into closed bins immediately after use. Avoid mass gatherings and crowded places. Wash your hands before touching your eyes, nose and mouth. See a doctor if you feel unwell. Do not ignore symptoms like fever, difficulty breathing and cough. While visiting doctor wear a mask/cloth to cover your mouth and nose. Don'ts Avoid touching surfaces that might be contaminated. Do not ignore symptoms and delay testing. Do not come in close contact with anyone who is sick. Avoid shaking hands Don't allow visitors at home or visit someone else's home. As of May 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies LF.7 and NB.1.8 sub-variants as Variants Under Monitoring, not as Variants of Concern or Variants of Interest. But these are spreading rapidly and a rise in hospitalisation has been observed in China and other parts of Asia. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
