What is cardiopulmonary bypass?

Doctors have high hopes for a new treatment method that is the result of many years of efforts of researchers in the world. This treatment method, which uses the patient’s own immune cells, is called corticosteroid therapy. This treatment was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017 for a type of blood cancer. Due to the promising results of this treatment, the use of this treatment began in other parts of the world. Today, cardiopulmonary tuberculosis therapy is also approved in Europe and is used as the fourth line of treatment for various types of blood cancer. In China, this treatment has received a lot of attention, so that currently the most clinical studies in the world have been registered in this country, and more than 5 studies in the third phase of the trial (for lymphoma, leukemia and multiple myeloma cancers) in is being done In addition to the remarkable successes in treating blood cancers with this method, researchers are studying to treat other cancers using cardi-cell technology, for example, in China, huge investments are being made to treat colorectal and ovarian cancers. , breast, glioma, liver carcinoma and neuroblastoma have been performed.

What is corticosteroid therapy?

CAR T cell therapy is a new type of treatment in which T lymphocytes (which are one of the cells of the immune system) are taken from the patient’s blood and after inserting a genetic structure into them that is a type of acceptor. It is a chimeric antigen and it is called CAR construct, it is returned to the patient’s body. These cells can specifically attack cancer cells and destroy them due to the changes made in the patient’s cells using the CAR molecule. These genetically modified cells, after checking­ Quality control tests are provided to the attending physician for injection to the patient.

Who can be a candidate for tuberculosis cardiology treatment?

Currently, the use of Cardicell for the treatment of some forms of malignant blood cancers (non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and B-ALL) is licensed in the United States of America and Europe. In addition, a large number of clinical trials for other forms of blood cancers are underway around the world. Patients should consult their doctor to receive this type of treatment.

When is cardi cel injected?

From the time the patient’s blood is taken for the isolation of T lymphocytes, it takes about three weeks to produce the patient’s specific cardiology cell. If after three weeks, the cardi cells are approved by the center that produces the cardi cells in terms of safety and functionality, the cells are sent from the cell production site to the hospital and injected into the patient by a specialist doctor.

What is the probability of success in the treatment?

in  So far, the world has licensed two products based on the treatment of tuberculosis. Kymriah, which was the first product introduced by Novartis in 2017 for the treatment of B-ALL cancer, showed a cure rate of 83%, and the second product, Yescarta, showed a cure rate of 72% for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Who confirms that the patient needs cardiology treatment?

The oncologist and the bone marrow transplant treatment team will decide on the need for cardiopulmonary tuberculosis treatment if this type of transplant is not effective or there is no suitable donor.

Is tuberculosis cardiology currently being performed in Iran?

no Currently, this service is not provided in any medical center in Iran, and only a few knowledge-based companies are conducting research at the level of pre-clinical studies. If the disease requires this treatment, the Middle East Gene Therapy Company is able to provide the necessary arrangements to send the patient to other countries.

Patients who are resistant to other treatments are usually candidates for tuberculosis treatment. Therefore, the examinations before tuberculosis treatment depend on the type of disease and the patient’s condition. Patients, in addition to common examinations (general health, lack of sensitivity, having other diseases and medical history), which are performed at the discretion of the attending physician, in terms of the presence of the appropriate number of T cells and the quality of these cells for use in cardiology Treatment is checked. After these examinations, the patient’s T cells are separated from the patient’s blood by a process called apheresis and are activated and targeted against cancer cells in the laboratory using the CAR molecule. After multiplying and increasing their number to the appropriate amount, these cells are checked for health and quality and are prepared for injection to the patient. Also, before injecting the cells to the patient, in order to increase the probability of the success of the treatment, depending on the diagnosis of the attending physician, different doses of chemotherapy or treatments that reduce the volume of the tumor are performed. Finally, under suitable conditions, the cells are injected into the patient and the patient is hospitalized and under care for several weeks after the injection.

What is the process of sending a patient abroad to use this treatment?

First, through the Supreme Medical Council of the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, the permission for the allocation of medical currency and admission in the destination country is received, then in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Social Affairs through a letter requesting medical visas for the patient and his companion. It has been reflected to the Passport and Visa Department (Consular General Department) so that the necessary assistance can be provided for the issuance of urgent visas to foreign embassies residing in Tehran. After receiving the medical visas, the arrival date and flight number of the patient and his companions will be announced in a letter to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the country where the patient is being treated.

Is there a need to use complementary treatments after cardiopulmonary bypass?

There is no need for other simultaneous treatments during treatment with Cardicell. Of course, before the treatment, a low-dose chemotherapy course may be performed at the discretion of the attending physician. After cell injection, there is a need for specific treatments to reduce possible side effects.

If for any reason due to the condition of the disease, it is not possible to use the patient’s own Tcells Used Is it possible to use another person’s cells?

This can be done if the donor cells are compatible with the patient in terms of HLA type.

Can the patient’s cells that have already been stored be used for cardiology treatment?

Yes. It is possible to store patients’ lymphocytes before treatment. These cells are recovered at the time required for the diagnosis of the attending physician and are used for the preparation of cell cards.

Does the treatment using cardicell have side effects?

Yes. Because these cells are active cells that secrete inflammatory and lethal factors against cancer cells, the side effects caused by the injection of cardi-cell are inevitable. Although these side effects are temporary and controllable, patients may need care for several weeks. These complications include an increase in inflammatory cytokines with symptoms such as fever, chills, low blood pressure and shortness of breath, or neurological problems with symptoms such as confusion and temporary speech disorder.