Kazakhstani scientists have successfully explored innovative treatments for late-stage blood cancer, potentially positioning Kazakhstan as the first country in Central Asia to use gene-modified cells for treating oncological hematological diseases. This therapy, capable of completely curing patients in the final stages of blood cancer, could be considerably more affordable than similar treatments in Europe and the USA.
The technology for generating autologous genetically-modified T-lymphocytes expressing chimeric antigen receptors (CAR-T) has been studied and developed as part of Kazakhstan’s National Program for the Implementation of Personalized and Preventive Medicine, under the guidance of Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University. CAR-T therapy involves the genetic modification of a patient’s own cells, which are then able to kill cancer cells. This groundbreaking technology was researched over three years at the National Center for Biomedicine.
«This is a treatment using gene-modified cells. In my view, it represents the pinnacle of personalized medicine because it’s precisely the situation where a drug is created specifically for an individual patient. That is, the drug will be safe and effective if it’s made from autologous cells, meaning the patient’s own cells, and then reintroduced into the patient. This is the first instance in global medicine where treatment with genetically modified organisms has been widely applied. The CAR-T technology is already being extensively used abroad in countries with advanced medical systems,» noted the research project lead associate, Alexander Shustov.
The procedure for creating these gene-modified cells is technologically complex and requires the use of costly equipment. For this research, a special device called CliniMACS Prodigy, a cell processor, was acquired.
«We prepare a concentrated leukocyte drug obtained from the patient, which is then transferred to a biotechnological laboratory. There, a fraction of T-lymphocytes is isolated from this drug, and then genetically modified through special treatment with a viral vector. As a result, the modified cells attack tumor cells, leading to the destruction of the tumor,» emphasized Alexander Shustov.
Currently, CAR-T technology is used in several European countries, Russia, the USA, and China. The cost of one treatment course is approximately $475,000. The implementation of such therapy in Kazakhstan faced challenges due to technological complexity, lack of scientific research, and necessary medical infrastructure. At least three patients from Kazakhstan have received this therapy abroad. All were in the final stages of hematological oncology, and therapy-initiated remission.
«One patient, who underwent treatment in China, traveled there with terminal cancer and was told she had only 16 weeks to live. She is now alive and actively engaged in promoting this technology,» noted Shustov.
The aim of the study was to explore the feasibility of applying this technology in Kazakhstan. The scientists concluded that it is possible to implement this therapy in the country, and it would be significantly cheaper. Moreover, patients could potentially be treated with funds from the guaranteed volume of free medical aid.
CAR-T therapy represents not only a technology of hope but also a proven effective treatment. Patients who undergo this therapy are usually removed from medical monitoring after five years, as they are considered completely cured. However, for Kazakhstani patients, this therapy remains inaccessible due to its high cost. In Kazakhstan, the state reimbursement for similar procedures, such as bone marrow transplantation, is around 16 million tenge, which is approximately 30,000 dollars. Given this, there are practically no other alternatives for Kazakhstani patients in need of such treatment. «It is crucial that we master both the clinical and biotechnological aspects of this technology. Within the framework of the National Program for Personalized Medicine, the biotechnological stage has already been successfully completed, which is a significant achievement,» said the research’s scientific leader.
Annually, about 1,000 cases of hematological oncological diseases are diagnosed in Kazakhstan. Most patients are successfully treated with traditional therapy, but approximately 300 patients in the late stages of cancer require high-tech treatment.
«CAR-T technologies, used in leukemia treatment, are groundbreaking not only for Kazakhstan but for the entire world. Only a few countries, including Japan and the USA, are developing these technologies, and Kazakhstan is one of the pioneers in this field. Despite the fact that the implementation of CAR-T technologies has not yet become widespread even in developed countries, Kazakhstan is actively exploring these methods. There is hope that this technology will be included in the list of high-tech medical services. Its inclusion is justified by the need and importance for patients. Kazakhstan, becoming a leader in CAR-T therapy in Central Asia, could significantly contribute to the development of medical tourism in the region,» noted Marat Shoranov, Rector of S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University.
