CaRi-heart technology
Revolutionary new technology to assess the risk of a serious heart condition or heart attack – many years before anything happens.
CAR T-cell therapy
A revolutionary treatment that uses the patient's own immune system to target certain types of cancer
What is CAR T-cell therapy?
CAR T-cell therapy is a type of adoptive cell therapy, custom made for each patient using their own T-cells. Our T-cells play a vital role in our immune system, orchestrating the immune response in our bodies by killing cells that have become infected by pathogens (bacteria or germs capable of causing disease).
On the surface of every cancer cell, there are specific antigens relating to that type of cancer. These are foreign toxins that normally induce an immune response within our body. However, sometimes our T-cell lymphocytes that search for infections stop recognising antigens as foreign and no longer destroy them, which is how cancer develops. In CAR T-cell therapy, these genetically modified T-cells are designed to recognise and eradicate specific antigens on tumour cells.
CAR T-cell therapy is the latest breakthrough in immunotherapy treatment and can be used to treat some blood cancers that have not responded to conventional chemotherapy.
At HCA Healthcare UK, we are committed to providing the very best care and access to emerging therapies as soon as they are available. We will be one of the first JACIE accredited private providers in the UK to offer the latest CAR T-cell therapy.
To see how CAR T-cell therapy works, watch our video
CAR T-cell therapy, a novel type of immunotherapy, is designed to strengthen and harness the immune system's inherent cancer-eliminating powers and remove its disguise.
How does CAR T-cell therapy work?
CAR T-cell therapy involves the adoptive transfer of T-cells that have been genetically modified with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to target a tumour. CAR T-cells are intended to provide immediate and specific activity against tumour cells that contain the antigen to which the CAR is aimed.
Early data outcomes from this exciting new treatment have so far shown very promising results for many patients.
Whilst CAR T-cell therapy is an exciting step change in blood cancer treatment, at this stage it's not suitable for all patients. Our leading MDTs will ensure every individual patient's case is reviewed, in order to ensure patients that can benefit from this treatment can access it at a specialist centre.
Patient's white blood cells are isolated, collected and sent to the laboratory.
Once at the lab, T-cells are genetically modified with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), to kill cancer.
The cells are then expanded until there are millions of disease-attacking cells.
Modified cells, CAR T-cell therapy, are infused through an IV back into the patient's blood.
CAR T-cells track down and kill the patient's tumour cells.
Who is CAR T-cell therapy suitable for?
CAR T-cell therapy is used to treat patients who have not responded to standard first and second line treatment. Initially we will be accepting referrals for patients over 18 with: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, transformed follicular lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma. We are preparing to accept referrals for other types of blood cancers soon.
- Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
- Transformed follicular lymphoma
- Primary mediastinal large b-cell lymphoma
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
- Mantle cell lymphoma
A comprehensive haematology service
At HCA Healthcare UK we have developed comprehensive haematology services including dedicated JACIE-ISCT accredited haematopoietic stem cell transplant units. We work in partnership with some of the UK’s most prestigious university teaching hospitals and are one of the only private providers in the UK to offer these complex haematology services.
All of our hospitals that provide these complex haematology services have achieved the highest rating of ‘Outstanding’ from the CQC.