B.C. is starting to offer an immunotherapy cancer treatment in the province for some patients who haven’t had success with standard chemotherapy or radiation.
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell Therapy, commonly known as CAR-T, is used to treat lymphoma and leukemia by taking a patient’s white blood cells and modifying them genetically to identify and eliminate cancer cells.
Dr. Kim Chi, the chief medical officer for BC Cancer, says patients who required the treatment previously had to be sent outside the province or country.
Provincial Health Minister Adrian Dix says $14.3 million in this year’s budget will allow up to 20 adults and five children to receive treatment at Vancouver General Hospital or BC Children’s Hospital starting this month.
Chi says the therapy demonstrates the advancement of cancer treatments, driven by leading-edge research and technology.
MJ Asrat, whose son Hugo underwent CAR-T therapy as part of a clinical trial, stated at the press conference announcing the funding that it enabled him to become healthy enough to undergo a bone-marrow transplant after more than three and a half years of chemotherapy for his leukemia.
She mentioned that the eight-year-old is now free of cancer and “enjoying the pleasures of childhood once again.”
“To the medical researchers who tirelessly push the boundaries of science and to the selfless donors who give hope to families like ours, we owe you an immeasurable debt of gratitude,” she said.
