A First for Jiahui: International Patient with Multiple Myeloma Completes CAR-T Treatment in China and Is Discharged
At the end of 2023, Joshua (pseudonym), the first myeloma patient at Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital to receive CAR-T cell immunotherapy, was successfully discharged from the hospital within two weeks after completing treatment.
The patient, a New Zealander living in Shanghai, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008. Despite receiving various treatments including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, he unfortunately relapsed in 2022, accompanied by severe pain and bone damage. Because multiple myeloma is highly aggressive and remissions are getting shorter and shorter, he has been looking for new, more effective treatments. A year ago, Joshua came to Jiahui for outpatient treatment. "The whole experience in Jiahui was very smooth. From doctors to nurses, the entire medical team gave me good support, which made me feel at ease." In July 2023, the BCMA-targeted equecabtagene autoleucel injection developed by IASO Biotherapeutics was approved for marketing for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma that has progressed after at least three lines of treatment. This news brought new hope to Joshua. After consultation with Director Li Hua and Dr. Zhou Lili of the hematology team of Jiahui International Cancer Center, he decided to carry out this cutting-edge treatment at Jiahui International Hospital.
CAR-T therapy, or "chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy", is a major breakthrough in personalized cellular immunotherapy for human cancers. It mainly collects the patient's T cells and conducts in vitro genetic engineering modifications to enhance the ability of the T cells to specifically recognize tumors; then, a large number of expanded "armed" T cells (i.e., CAR-T cells) are infused back to the patient to kill tumor cells in a targeted manner, and also form immune memory T cells, thereby obtaining specific and long-lasting anti-tumor effects. Currently, China has approved CAR-T therapy for the treatment of lymphoma and multiple myeloma. CAR-T therapy includes many key links such as patient screening, bridging treatment, adverse reaction treatment, and long-term follow-up. As an individualized and comprehensive treatment method, CAR-T therapy requires close monitoring and cooperation by a highly specialized, experienced, responsible, and multidisciplinary team with rich experience in the diagnosis and treatment of hematological tumors, including the full collaboration of hematology, cardiology, respiratory medicine, neurology, ICU, and experienced nursing teams.
Joshua has been living and working in Shanghai for the past few years. In his opinion, CAR-T treatment at Jiahui International Hospital not only avoids complicated travel, but also allows you to enjoy international standard medical services, convenient and efficient services, cutting-edge therapies and advanced equipment resources. "During the entire treatment process, I never stopped working, and I only applied for leave in the past three weeks due to cell transfusion. In Jiahui, I can balance treatment and work well." He emphasized, "Everyone's situation is different. Fortunately, my side effects were not serious, and the entire Jiahui team always paid close attention to my physical condition, making the whole process unexpectedly smooth."
Since CAR-T therapy was approved for marketing in China, Shanghai Jiahui International Cancer Center (JICC) has joined hands with domestic and foreign partners to build an international CAR-T diagnosis and treatment platform, share clinical experience, exchange academic progress, and provide hematological tumor education and training for medical staff. Currently, under the leadership of Vicky H. LEE, director of Jiahui International Cancer Center and director of the Department of Medical Oncology, Jiahui International Cancer Center has established a high-level international hematology CAR-T treatment team, and many patients with hematological tumors at home and abroad have chosen to receive CAR-T treatment in Jiahui, including foreign lymphoma and myeloma patients who have completed treatment and were successfully discharged, as well as many patients from overseas who are in urgent need of CAR-T treatment. In the future, Jiahui International Cancer Center will continue to be committed to exploring the application of innovative concepts and technologies in clinical practice to bring new hope for cure to more patients with hematological tumors.