CAR-T cell therapy has brought tangible new hope, and even life-altering change, to countless patients. On October 31, 2023, the University of Pennsylvania shared a remarkable story: an extraordinary young woman, Emily Whitehead, had enrolled as a freshman.

This new student was once a child battling leukemia. At just six years old, she received an innovative CAR-T cell treatment—a therapy pioneered by researchers at the very university she now attends. This intervention completely transformed the course of Emily's life.

Emily Whitehead, now a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania

CAR-T, which stands for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell therapy, involves collecting a patient's own T cells. These cells are then genetically engineered and multiplied in a laboratory to express a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR). This receptor enables the modified T cells to recognize and attack cancer cells bearing a specific antigen, harnessing the body's own immune system to fight the tumor.

This technology has achieved remarkable success in treating B-cell lymphoma, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and multiple myeloma.

Foshan Chancheng Hospital has been ranked #1 among all private hospitals in China for six consecutive years, a testament to its comprehensive capabilities and high standards of medical care and service. The hospital's Precision Oncology Center has earned a strong reputation among patients and peers for its advancements in precise cancer treatment, having attracted renowned experts and invested in advanced technology in recent years.

Following rigorous training and evaluation, our hospital has been successfully added to the list of authorized treatment centers for Fosun Kite's CAR-T therapy. We have now begun treating patients with relapsed or refractory high-grade B-cell lymphoma using the CAR-T cell therapy Yescarta (Axicabtagene Ciloleucel).

A patient undergoing CAR-T therapy under the guidance of Dr. Ye Gang, Chief Oncology Specialist at the Precision Oncology Center

Emily is fortunate. Walking under the shaded pathways of Penn's campus, her life has returned to the ordinary track of a typical student. Her story is more than a simple account of overcoming cancer; it embodies the perseverance and faith she and her family placed in innovative treatment.

Emily is no longer an isolated case. Worldwide, at least 20,000 patients have received CAR-T therapy, with success rates ranging from 50% to 90%. We hope and firmly believe that an increasing number of our patients will benefit from CAR-T cell therapy and other emerging innovative drugs and technologies.

Emily: A growth photo commemorating her journey post-treatment

Expert Insight in This Article

Dr. Ye Gang, Chief Oncology Specialist and Chief Hematology & Lymphoma Specialist at the Foshan Chancheng Hospital Precision Oncology Center, emphasized the sophisticated nature of CAR-T therapy. "The application of CAR-T technology demands a high level of expertise," he stated. "It requires strict adherence to indications and meticulous management of potential adverse events to truly benefit patients. Consequently, it places significant demands on the clinical team and should be conducted within a high-level, comprehensive hospital setting."

Dr. Ye has fully integrated his years of diagnostic and therapeutic experience from the United States into the center's practice. He has conducted extensive, specialized training for the hematology CAR-T cell therapy team and the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), sharing his knowledge unreservedly to ensure the safe and effective delivery of CAR-T treatment.

Currently, one patient at the oncology center is undergoing CAR-T therapy. The pioneering application of this treatment in Foshan provides patients with hematologic malignancies access to a more precise therapeutic option, which is expected to significantly enhance survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients.