As a pioneer unit approved by the Ministry of Health to deploy CAR-T clinical trials in Vietnam, Vinmec affirms its research capacity, application of advanced cell therapies and opens up new prospects in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease, in which the immune system mistakes healthy tissues for harmful agents and attacks the body itself, causing inflammation and damage to many organs such as skin, joints, kidneys, heart and brain.
The female patient was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus accompanied by glomerulonephritis complications from 2023, had been treated with many types of drugs but responded poorly. Recently, the disease has worsened, appearing whole-body edema and accompanied by severe kidney damage.
After a professional evaluation process, patients are selected to participate in the clinical trial research program to treat systemic lupus erythematosus with CAR-T immunocell therapy implemented by the Vinmec Stem Cell and Gene Technology Institute, in coordination with the Hematology Department of Vinmec Smart City General Hospital and the Immunology - Allergy Department of Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
Successfully controlling complications, recording positive biological response
The team of experts and scientists of the Vinmec Health System collects the body's immune cells (T lymphocyte-like white blood cells) from patients to perform the process of transferring genes to create new immune cells (CAR-T). These cells have the ability to identify and eliminate cells that cause the disease. This method has created a breakthrough in the treatment of many malignant hematological diseases and is currently being studied to expand to autoimmune diseases, including systemic resistance lupus erythematosus.
After the stage of using chemicals to eliminate disease-causing cells and prepare an appropriate immune environment, patients are transfused CAR-T immune cells in individualized doses according to weight.
During post-transfusion monitoring, the patient developed the syndrome of release of inflammatory mediators (CRS) - a common sign of CAR-T therapy. At the same time, leukopenia due to chemicals increased the risk of infection. The patient was continuously monitored in a sterile positive stress isolation system and fully applied in-depth support measures.
However, thanks to the close coordination of the multidisciplinary team, all emerging signs were safely and effectively controlled. After 2 weeks of treatment, the patient was discharged from the hospital in stable condition.
Initial evaluation results show that CAR-T immune cells proliferate well after infusion. In particular, the disease-causing cell population has decreased to undetectable levels, showing positive biological response to the therapy. Patients are currently continuing to be monitored outpatiently periodically to assess the long-term effectiveness of treatment as well as the recovery of the immune system.
Prospects from CAR-T therapy
According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Liem - Director of the Institute of Stem Cell Research & Gen Technology Vinmec, said: "This initial success has put Vietnam on the list of pioneering countries applying CAR-T therapy in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. This is the result of long-term investment in people, technology and Vinmec's in-depth treatment ecosystem. In which, a specialized infrastructure platform is built according to international standards from a high-tech laboratory system, standard cell production process to a positive-pressure isolation inpatient treatment area dedicated to immunocompromised patients.
Unlike traditional treatments that mainly control symptoms or suppress immunity, CAR-T therapy is expected to have the ability to re-establish the immune system, thereby thoroughly addressing the cause and restoring health for patients.
In Vietnam, Vinmec Health System is one of the pioneering units in researching and developing technology, producing cells to therapy and clinical trials. Not only deploying a new technique, Vinmec also aims to build a research - production - application of cell therapy ecosystem right in Vietnam, gradually approaching the world's leading advanced medical centers.
