2 weeks Ago By GK NEWS SERVICE
New Delhi, Mar 20: Jamia Millia Islamia has lauded the work on CAR T-cell therapy carried out by Dr Tanveer Ahmed, a Kashmiri scientist working at the University and first author Dr Areej Akhtar. CAR T-cell is a groundbreaking treatment that has transformed the fight against blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. This therapy involves engineering the patient’s own T-cells to recognize and kill cancer cells.
One of the most well-known success stories of CAR T-cell therapy is Emily Whitehead, the first child to receive this treatment in a clinical trial. She had a severe form of leukemia, and after receiving CAR T-cell therapy in April 2012, she has remained cancer-free for over a decade now, inspiring hope worldwide. The current CAR T-cell therapies available in India and abroad are 2nd generation.
Researchers at Jamia Millia Islamia’s Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research & Studies (MCARS) have taken this therapy a step further, read a statement, issued by the varsity. Their latest study, which is now published in the prestigious journal Cell Reports Medicine, focuses on 4th generation CAR T-cell therapy, which is a highly advanced version of the previous generations. This new method aims to improve the long-term efficacy and persistence of CAR T cells.
The research team, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Tanveer Ahmad and first author Dr. Areej Akhtar, has developed a way to make CAR T-cell therapy more effective and cost-effective.
GLP-1 peptides are already well-known for their anti-diabetic and weight-loss benefits.In this study, researchers found that when CAR T-cells are combined with these peptides, they work better, last longer in the body, and show greater anti-tumor activity. This means that patients receiving this enhanced therapy are more likely to stay cancer-free for a longer period.
The research team used a multi-step approach that included in silico modeling to understand how the metabolic changes would affect CAR T cells, in vitro testing to observe the effects on cells, preclinical testing in multiple tumor models to study the impact in living organisms, and analysis of cancer patient samples to see how well this new approach works in human cells. The results showed that this new “Metabolically Reprogrammed CAR T” which they called as “MCAR T” therapy activates autophagy and mitophagy-processes that help cells clean out damaged components and function better. This leads to stronger, longer-lasting CAR T-cell responses.
Dr. Tanveer Ahmad emphasized that this research could make CAR T-cell therapy much more. effective, especially for patients who relapse after treatment.
“Our 4th generation CAR T Therapy will significantly improve treatment outcomes and long-term remission rates in patients,” he explained. Dr. Areej Akhtar and her lab mates have also developed a 3rd generation CAR T-cell therapy, which has recently entered clinical trials.
This is the first 3rd generation CAR T-cell trial in India, and the initial results are very promising in patients who have been treated for the blood cancer.Prof. Mohammad Husain, Director of MCARS, pointed out that while CAR T-cell therapy has helped many patients worldwide, its high cost remains a major barrier.
In the United States, the treatment costs over 4 crore ($500,000), making it inaccessible to most patients. “At Jamia Millia Islamia, we are dedicated to making these revolutionary treatments available in India at a fraction of the cost. Our innovative approach could help bring this life-saving therapy to thousands of patients,” he stated.
With ongoing research and collaboration between universities and industry partners, India is taking significant steps toward making CAR T-cell therapy more affordable and accessible. The work being done at MCARS is a major step in this direction, and their patented 4th generation CAR T cell technology is available for collaboration with interested industries and institutions.The post Kashmiri scientist leads novel CAR T-Cell therapy by Jamia Millia Islamia appeared first on Greater Kashmir.
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