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CAR T-Cell Therapy in Israel

CAR T-Cell Therapy in Israel Brightens the Future for Leukemia Patients

CAR T-Cell Therapy in Israel is a pioneering new treatment for leukemia, which is a cancer of the blood. Leukemia, which can cause extreme and devastating symptoms, is sadly the most frequently diagnosed cancer among children. In addition, standard therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy often fail to eradicate all types of this disease. Yet the recent appearance of a revolutionary new approach called CAR T-Cell Therapy is changing the future of leukemia treatment and giving new hope to patients.

Engineered CAR T-cells (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) were invented originally by Prof. Zelig Eshhar from the Weizmann Institute of Science, in Rehovot, Israel. Many years later, various health facilities in the United States established the use of these CAR T-cells as a treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

In order to fund the CAR T-cell program for ALL in Israel, Dr. Elad Jacoby, Attending Physician at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department and Investigator in Pediatric Cancer Immunotherapy at the Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, as well as Head of Sheba’s Pediatric Cell Therapy Center, trained at the National Cancer Institute in the US. His unique and comprehensive high-level training enabled the establishment of CAR T-cell therapy in Israel.

CAR-T Cell Therapy

What is CAR T-Cell Therapy & How Does it Work?

To administer CAR T-cell therapy, a doctor extracts blood from the patient, which is then sent to a specialized laboratory where the T-cells are separated from the rest of the blood. The next step is to genetically engineer these T-cells, which are a type of immune cell so that they produce chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). After the modified T-cells take time to multiply in a laboratory setting, a doctor injects them back into the patient. Now they function differently – due to the CARs, these engineered T-cells can recognize tumor cells and destroy them.

While the T-cells are reproducing, the patient receives chemotherapy that suppresses their immune system. In effect, this helps CAR T-cells work more efficiently once they are injected into the patient. Altogether, this revolutionary treatment for leukemia takes approximately 10 days, and patients are typically hospitalized for at least two weeks for monitoring. Learn more about the processes of CAR T-Cell. The number of adults who have undergone this therapy CAR T-cell therapy at Sheba: is over 420 patients In young children 85% Teenagers: about 80%.

What Are the Success Rates of CAR T-Cell Therapy?

The very first child with leukemia to receive CAR T-cell treatment in Israel achieved total remission. Since 2016, the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department at Sheba Medical Center has provided CAR T-cell therapy for 17 cases, and 75% of these showed complete remission.

  • In young children: 85%
  • Teenagers: About 80%

Benefits of CAR T-Cell Therapy at Sheba Medical Center in Israel

In Israel, CAR T-Cell Therapy is performed exclusively at Sheba Medical Center, led by the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department and the Ella Lemelbaum Institute for Immuno-Oncology. Sheba was the first hospital to pioneer this innovative treatment outside of the United States. The Benefits of CAR T-Cell Therapy at Sheba:

Convenient on-site care:

We feature full CAR T-cell facilities under one-roof (including blood harvesting, chemotherapy, genetic engineering laboratory, T-cell injections, and patient observation), creating an efficient experience

Affordable fees:

Medical expenses are generally lower than in the US, and we offer full transparency with no hidden costs

World-renowned specialists:

Our staff includes some of the most qualified and experienced oncologists, hematologists, and immunologists in the world

Full accreditation:

We are fully accredited for international healthcare by the Joint Commission International (JCI)

Patient-friendly:

A coordinator from the International Medical Tourism Division will assist with everything from travel to translation

Holistic care:

Healthcare at Sheba is provided with a holistic approach; treatments are designed to take the patient’s quality of life and overall well-being into consideration

CAR-T Leukemia Therapy

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Sheba Medical Center provides innovative, personalized medical care to patients from around the world. We are the largest, most comprehensive hospital in the Middle East and dedicated to providing advanced and compassionate medicine for everyone.

We welcome all cases, including the rarest and the most challenging. Our medical teams collaborate to provide the best possible health outcomes. From your initial inquiry through the long-term follow-up care, we are here for you.

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