The London Clinic to offer CAR-T therapy to blood cancer patients

The London Clinic has announced it is the latest private hospital in the UK to offer CAR-T cell therapy to adult patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma – an aggressive form of blood cancer.

CAR-T cell therapy works by collecting immune cells (T cells) from the blood of patients. The T-cells are then genetically modified to destroy cancer cells in a laboratory and transferred back into the patient. The therapy is intended for patients when conventional chemotherapy has failed and who have no other treatment options available.

Professor John Gribben, who is leading the treatment at The London Clinic, said: "CAR-T cell therapy is an exciting advancement in the treatment of blood cancers, offering a new, final treatment option for patients when others haven’t had the result they need from conventional therapy.

“Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an aggressive form of blood cancer. So far, this treatment is showing promising outcomes for many patients, letting them return to normal lives with their families and loved-ones. The London Clinic is a pioneering hospital and we are proud to be in a position to offer this treatment to our patients in the UK, Europe and from international countries,” added professor Gribben.

Research surrounding CAR-T therapy has shown positive outcomes for the treatment. In a phase two clinical trial of 111 patients, 52% of patients treated with CAR-T therapy lived for 18 months after treatment.

Satya Bhattacharya, medical director of The London Clinic, said: "The London Clinic is committed to bringing together it’s strengths in clinical service, research, and innovation to successfully deliver new treatments such as CAR-T cell therapy and create positive outcomes for our patients.

“Our team of internationally-renowned haematologists and clinical nurses have specialist experience and expertise in all aspects of treating blood cancers and we are excited to be one of a small number of hospitals offering this exciting new treatment. Our charitable ethos means that we are committed to advancing healthcare knowledge across the wider community.”