Reengineering a patient’s own immune system to hunt down and destroy cancer cells may sound like science fiction—but it’s not. It’s called Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, and it’s now available at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC).
“This has been a long time coming,” says Dr. Annette Hay, hematologist at KHSC and Chair of the Division of Hematology at Queen’s University. “CAR T-cell therapy is personalized, precision medicine. It’s the next big advancement in cancer care.”
KHSC is now just the fourth hospital in Ontario to offer this groundbreaking therapy, joining hospitals in Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton. It means patients in southeastern Ontario can now receive this advanced treatment closer to home.
CAR T-cell therapy takes a different approach than chemotherapy or radiation, strengthening the body’s immune system to destroy cancer cells.
T-cells are a type of white blood cell that helps the body detect and fight infections, but cancer cells can learn to hide from them. CAR T-cell therapy works by collecting a patient’s T-cells, teaching them to find and attack the cancer, then reinjecting them back into the body.
“Once re-engineered, the T-cells are attracted to cancer cells like a magnet to iron,” says Dr. Hay. “When cancers stop responding to chemotherapy, CAR T-cell therapy can lead to longer remission—or even get rid of the cancer entirely.”
Until now, patients in this region had to travel to other cities—or even across the border—for this treatment. That added time, cost and stress builds on an already difficult experience.
Now, from collection to transfusion, the entire process can now happen at KHSC—under the care of a team that patients in the region already know and trust. It also means faster access to care, which can be critical.
“Bringing this therapy to southeastern Ontario is a game-changer for our patients,” says Jason Hann, Regional Vice-President of Cancer Care. “By working in partnership with the KHSC Research Institute, Queen’s University and the Sinclair Cancer Research Institute, we’re making Kingston a leader in advanced cancer therapy by removing barriers, improving outcomes, and delivering world-class care closer to home.”
It took more than five years to build the program at KHSC and involved staff from nearly every corner of the hospital.
“I’m so proud of what our team has built,” says Dr. Hay. “It shows we’re a leader in this space.”
KHSC is home to the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario and is the region’s leading provider of cancer care. Learn more about CAR T-cell therapy here: https://kingstonhsc.ca/cancer-care/news/khsc-launches-cutting-edge-cancer-therapy-program
