Innovative CAR T-Cell Therapy in Israel
CAR T-cell therapy is a revolutionary, highly specialized and individualized treatment for leukemia and lymphoma (blood cancers) offered by a limited number of cancer centers worldwide. We are pleased to offer CAR T-cell therapy to patients from around the world at the Sheba Medical Center’s Hemato-Oncology Department.
As part of CAR T-cell therapy, the patient’s white blood cells are genetically reprogrammed to kill cancer cells, enabling many patients who did not respond to other treatment methods to achieve remission. At Sheba, we have all of the advanced facilities necessary for delivering CAR T-cell therapy from start to finish, including a dedicated laboratory to engineer the T-cells.
How Does CAR T-cell Therapy Work?
The CAR T-cell process begins with the patient’s blood being drawn. White blood cells (specifically, T-cells, an essential part of the immune system) are then separated from the rest of the blood using advanced technology. The white blood cells are subsequently sent to a specialized laboratory, where they are engineered to produce specific chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on their surface. These CAR T-cells are then reinjected back into the patient’s bloodstream. The new CARs can help the modified white blood cells latch on to an antigen on tumor cells – significantly increasing their ability to effectively hunt down and destroy cancerous cells.
While the modified T-cells grow in our laboratory, the patient receives chemotherapy to suppress their immune system, creating a more efficient setting for the CAR T-cells to do their job and eliminate malignant cells.
A significant benefit of CAR T-cell therapy is that it not only instructs the T-cells to kill the cancer, but it also triggers the T-cells to grow and multiply. Therefore, after just one treatment, the cells continue to attack the tumor for months or even years.
Why Choose Sheba Medical Center for car t-cell therapy?
Sheba’s extensive experience with CAR T-cell therapy speaks louder than words. Led by Prof. Arnon Nagler, Director of the Hemato-Oncology Division and a world-renowned specialist in the field, we have provided over 220 patients with CAR T-cell therapy, including about 60 children.
CAR cells must undergo extensive processing before they are ready to be administered to the patient, and at Sheba, they are engineered in-house in a specialized laboratory. As a result, the entire process from lymphocyte collection to patient delivery only takes about 10 days, while many other hospitals use commercial CARs, which must be engineered abroad and shipped, which can take months. This delay can cause the patient’s disease to progress further, reducing the effectiveness of the body’s response to the CARs. Also, the shipping process compromises cell quality, as some cells die during the necessary freezing and thawing.
Benefits of CAR T-cell Therapy at Sheba
Convenient on-site care
We feature full CAR T-cell facilities under one-roof (including cell harvesting, chemotherapy, genetic engineering laboratory, T-cell injections, and patient observation), creating an efficient experience.
Full accreditation
We are fully accredited for international healthcare by the Joint Commission International (JCI)
Affordable fees
Medical expenses are generally lower than in the US, and we offer full transparency with no hidden costs
Patient- friendly
A coordinator from the Global patient services will assist with everything from travel to translation
World-renowned specialists
Our staff includes some of the most qualified and experienced oncologists, hematologists, and immunologists in the world
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
Patients Share Sam Turel’s Treatment with CAR T-Cell Therapy
In his native India, Sam Turel began receiving treatments in 2009 for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). After spending seven years in remission, he suffered a relapse and was treated with targeted therapy. Unfortunately, his cancer took a turn for the worse and transformed from CLL to diffuse large b-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). After attempts to treat it with chemotherapy failed, Sam began to research other options, and eventually turned to Sheba Medical Center for CAR T-cell therapy. Fast forward to the present day, Sam is healthy, happy and enjoying his retirement years.
The Director
Prof. Arnon Nagler, MD
Director of the Division of Hematology, Director of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cord Blood Bank
Prof. Nagler specializes in hematology, bone marrow transplantation, and internal medicine. He has pioneered numerous treatments for malignant and non-malignant blood disorders in Israel. Not only that, but Prof. Nagler also established the first public cord blood bank at Sheba in 2001, and he performed the first cord blood transplantation in Israel. In addition to his role at Sheba Medical Center, Prof. Nagler is a Professor of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University. After graduating from the Hebrew University’s Hadassah Medical School, in Jerusalem, Israel, Prof. Nagler then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University in the United States. In addition to receiving numerous awards, Prof. Nagler is widely published and a world-renowned speaker, who also holds over 40 patents and trademarks. He is a member of the EHA Scientific Program Committee, and Chair of the European Leukemia Subcommittee on Transplantation.
Read MoreHolistic healing at Sheba
At Sheba, cancer patients benefit from world-class medicine provided with a personal touch. Our care professionals look beyond disease – considering all aspects of well-being, including physical, emotional, and social needs. We care about every patient’s experience, offering all-inclusive services under one roof on our vast campus. Every patient is also assigned a personal medical coordinator from the Global Patient Services, who provides assistance throughout every step of the treatment.
Sheba Medical Center A Leader in Medicine and Biotechnological Innovation
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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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