CAR-T Cell Treatment in Turkey

About CAR-T Cell Treatment in Turkey

In Turkey, CAR-T cell treatment is carried out by specialist doctors in accordance with the latest developments. CAR-T cell therapy is a new, very complex, and expert treatment. It’s specifically developed for each person and involves reprogramming a patient’s own immune system cells, which are then applied to target their cancer. A process known as apheresis allows specialists to take a sample of T cells from a patient’s blood. In the lab, the T cells are genetically engineered into CAR-T cells, which are designed to recognize and target a specific protein in the cancer cells. The CAR-T cells are infused into the patient’s bloodstream through a drip.

A chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell treatment treats certain cancers by turning your T lymphocytes or T cells into more efficient cancer-fighting machines. While researchers are still collecting long-term data, CAR T-cell therapy is proving to be a very effective method of treating certain blood cancers.

CAR-T cell therapy can cause important side effects. So, patients are followed closely. Currently, it’s available as a possible treatment for some adults with lymphoma, some children, and some young people with leukemia. Patients with other types of cancer may have it as part of a clinical trial. Specialist doctors in Turkey help patients from across the world. Specialists then decide if a patient is eligible and make recommendations about alternative treatment options. It also considers whether patients are ideal for clinical trials. Children with leukemia for whom CAR-T therapy may be an option should be referred to the pediatric allogeneic stem cell service in Turkey by their specialist doctor. Eligible children will be referred to a specialist in Turkey to receive the treatment through Healthy Türkiye.

What Is CAR-T Cell Treatment in Turkey?

CAR-T cell treatment is a type of procedure that uses cells from your own immune system to fight lymphoma. These are called T cells, or T lymphocytes. CAR-T cell treatment is widely performed successfully in Turkey. T cells are a kind of white blood cell. As well as killing germs, T cells generally recognize and destroy any of your own cells that have become abnormal (such as cancer cells). However, cancer cells are good at tricking your T cells, either by looking very similar to healthy cells or by sending signals that tell your T cells not to fight them.

In CAR-T cell treatment, your own T cells are collected and sent off to a lab in Turkey. In the lab, they are genetically modified (changed) to recognize and stick to a particular protein on the surface of your lymphoma cells. These genetically modified T cells are known as CAR-T cells. CAR means “chimeric antigen receptor.” After they have been modified, the CAR-T cells are grown in the lab until there are enough of them to treat your lymphoma. They are then given back to you, like a blood transfusion. When they stick to the lymphoma cells in your body, the CAR-T cells are activated and destroy the lymphoma cells.

Good Candidate for CAR-T Cell Treatment in Turkey?

CAR T cell treatment is recommended for patients who have relapsed/relapsed or progressed after receiving previous treatments for certain types of leukemia or lymphoma. In order to qualify for CAR-T cell therapy in Turkey, the patient must undergo a series of tests performed by Turkish specialist doctors and have his medical history reviewed.

Children and adults up to the age of 25 with advanced and relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As well as adults with aggressive and recurring large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas that have not been totally eradicated after at least two prior cancer treatments.

CAR-T cell treatment can be successful in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia where all other treatment options have failed, in those who have had a relapse and are no longer responding to chemotherapy, or in those who have relapsed after a bone marrow transplant. It might also be a suitable treatment option for patients who are likely candidates for a bone marrow transplant but for whom a transplant would be difficult due to other health conditions.

How Does CAR-T Cell Treatment Work?

The immune system identifies foreign substances in the body by finding proteins called antigens on the surface of those cells. Immune cells called T cells have their own proteins called receptors that attach to foreign antigens and help trigger other parts of the immune system to kill the foreign substance.

The connection between antigens and immune receptors is like a lock and key. Just as a lock can only be opened with the right key, each foreign antigen has an exclusive immune receptor that is able to bind to it. Cancer cells also have antigens, but if your immune cells don’t have the right receptors, they can’t attach to the antigens and help kill the cancer cells.

In CAR-T cell treatments, T cells are taken from the patient’s blood. And they are changed in the lab in Turkey by adding a gene for a receptor (called a “chimeric antigen receptor”), which helps the T cells attach to a specific cancer cell antigen. The CAR-T cells are then given back to the patient.

Since different cancers have different antigens, each CAR is made for a specific cancer antigen. For example, in certain kinds of leukemia or lymphoma, the cancer cells have an antigen called CD19. The CAR-T cell therapy to treat these cancers is made to attach to the CD19 antigen and will not work for cancer that does not have the CD19 antigen.

How Is CAR-T Cell Treatment Performed in Turkey?

First, a patient with cancer is referred to a specialized center by Healthy Türkiye for this type of treatment. After the necessary checks have been carried out, the CAR-T cell treatment begins in Turkey. Then, their T cells require collection. It is important to know that T cells are generally affected by previous cancer treatments and might not be as healthy because of those treatments. Ideally, T cells are as healthy as possible when they are made into CAR-T cells. This generally means the collection of a person’s T cells needs to be done during a pause in treatment. This means the specialist must carefully make sure that cancer will not be too active or cause too many symptoms while treatment is paused, so as many healthy T cells are collected as possible. For some types of cancer, this is the most difficult part of the process, and some people may not be eligible for CAR-T cell treatment because of it.

After a certain period of time passes without treatment, T cells are collected through a process called apheresis. During apheresis, the person’s blood is circulated through a device that filters out T cells and gives the rest of the blood back to the person. These cells are then sent to a manufacturer to be created into CAR-T cells, which typically takes about 3 to 6 weeks. During manufacturing, the patient’s normal T cells are activated, multiplied, and infected with a virus, which results in a genetic modification that adds the CAR to the T cell. The CAR-T cells are then frozen and shipped back to the person with cancer’s doctor. While waiting for manufacturing to be complete, the patient’s regular cancer treatment can resume.

Before the specialist infuses the CAR-T cells into the patient with cancer, a short course of chemotherapy called lymphodepletion is given over 2–3 days so the normal immune system does not think the CAR-T cells are abnormal and reject them. Then, the CAR-T cells are taken out of the freezer, thawed, and infused through the blood, much like a blood transfusion. This is when the CAR-T cells begin their activity. They circulate around the body, finding cancer cells, activating, multiplying, using cytokines to call in backup, and killing cancer. The process might take place in an outpatient infusion center or in the hospital.

Making a CAR-T Cell in Turkey

A growing number of CAR-T cell treatments are being developed and tested in clinical studies. Although there are important differences between each specific treatment that can affect how they function in patients, they all share similar components. Each CAR connects the cell membrane. Part of the receptor is located outside the cell, and part is within the cell. The part of the CAR that extends out from the cell’s surface is generally composed of fragments, or domains, of lab-made antibodies. Which domains are used affects how well the receptor identifies or binds to the antigen on tumor cells. The internal part of each CAR has signaling and “co-stimulatory” areas. These send signals into the cell after the receptor interacts with an antigen. The different parts that are used can affect the cells’ overall function.

Early Recovery for CAR-T Cell Treatment in Turkey

If you had an inpatient CAR-T cell treatment, you’ll stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 weeks or longer after your treatment. How long you stay in the hospital changes how your body reacts to the cells. Your CAR-T team in Turkey will care for you and keep watching for side effects. Some side effects require you to be watched more closely and might result in transferring you to the intensive care unit (ICU). Once you’re ready, you will be discharged from the hospital. You will stay in an apartment or hotel near the hospital. All your accommodations will be handled by your personal assistant at Healthy Türkiye.

If you had an outpatient CAR-T cell treatment, you’ll have daily appointments for the first 2 weeks after your treatment. During your visits, your CAR-T team in Turkey will check how you’re doing and help manage any side effects you’re having. You will be admitted to the hospital if needed.

Beginning about 2 weeks after your treatment, you might be able to have appointments less frequently. This depends on how you’re feeling. Side effects are still common during this time, so it’s critical to come to all your scheduled appointments.

Long-Term Recovery for CAR-T Cell Treatment in Turkey

Long-term recovery is different for every patient. It depends on your specific situation and how cancer reacts to your CAR-T cell treatment. Your CAR-T team in Turkey will tell you what to expect. You will have appointments with your CAR-T team in Turkey about 30 days, 100 days, and 1 year after your CAR-T cell infusion. During these appointments, you will have tests to check how you’re doing. These tests may include:

Physical exam and blood tests,

Imaging scans,

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy,

Your CAR-T team in Turkey will use the consequences of these tests to plan your care during your recovery.

Your CAR-T team will talk with you about going back to see your primary specialist during your long-term follow-up. If you do begin seeing your primary specialist, please be sure to update your CAR-T team on how you’re doing. Some people need to come back to the CAR-T team for more care. This might include being seen in the outpatient clinic or being admitted to the hospital.

Patient’s Safety During the Side Effects of CAR-T Cell Treatment

Specialists have to strike a delicate balance between allowing patients to experience the cancer-killing side effects and stopping the therapy too early. Patients generally stay in the hospital for three to four weeks after the CAR-T cell treatment is infused so an expert CAR-T team can care for them. Even if patients don’t experience many side effects in the hospital, they could have them at home, so patients go back weekly for check-ups.

Also, specialists know that patients ages 65 and older are at a higher risk of experiencing the brain-related side effects of CAR-T cell-related encephalopathy syndrome. Older patients have more extensive health histories that might include conditions like diabetes, heart problems, or kidney failure that require additional attention.

Specialists conduct a physical exam before the CAR-T cell treatment to assess patients’ current health. If you have a history of stroke, seizures, memory loss, lung problems, or heart problems, be sure to tell your specialist. And since infection is a risk, also be confident to share if you’ve had a recent infection or if you’re currently fighting one.

CAR-T Cell Treatment for Other Cancers in Turkey

CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey is still very new. Specialists have to learn more about it before they can use it earlier in the disease or treat other types of cancer. Specialists are learning more about CAR-T cell treatment by testing it in clinical trials. This is when researchers use new drugs or treatments with small groups of patients to see how well they work.

Studies are looking to see if it may be right for other blood cancers including multiple myeloma and different forms of lymphoma and leukemia. Other studies are trying to find out if CAR-T cell treatment may work against solid tumors such as:

Prostate cancer

Brain cancer

Lung cancer

Melanoma

Sarcoma

Ovarian cancer

Taking part in a clinical study of CAR-T cell treatment could give you or your child the chance to try this treatment before it’s approved for your cancer. But you have to find the right one. If there is a clinical trial for your type of cancer, you’ll still require to qualify for it. The study’s Turkish specialists will want to make sure you’re healthy enough to benefit from the therapy. For detailed information, you can contact our experts at Healthy Türkiye.

2024 Cost of CAR-T Cell Treatment in Turkey

All types of medical attention, like CAR-T cell treatment, are very affordable in Turkey. Many factors are also included in determining the cost of CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey. Your process with Healthy Türkiye will last from the time you decide to have a CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey until the time you are fully recovered, even if you are back home. The exact cost of a CAR-T cell treatment procedure in Turkey depends on the type of operation involved.

The cost of CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey does not demonstrate many variations in 2024. Compared to costs in developed countries like the United States or the UK, CAR-T cell treatment costs in Turkey are relatively low. So, it’s no wonder patients from across the world visit Turkey for CAR-T cell treatment procedures. However, price is not the only factor affecting choices. We suggest looking for hospitals that are safe and have CAR-T cell treatment reviews on Google. When people decide to seek medical help for CAR-T cell treatment, they will not only have low-cost procedures in Turkey, but also the safest and best treatment.

At clinics or hospitals contracted with Healthy Türkiye, patients will receive the best CAR-T cell treatment from specialist doctors in Turkey at affordable rates. Healthy Türkiye teams provide medical attention, CAR-T cell treatment procedures, and high-quality treatment to patients at a minimum cost. When you contact Healthy Türkiye assistants, you can get free information about the cost of CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey and what this cost covers.

The prices may vary based on specific procedure requirements. Contact us for exact price information.

Why Is CAR-T Cell Treatment Cheaper in Turkey?

One of the main considerations before traveling abroad for CAR-T cell treatment is the cost-effectiveness of the whole process. Many patients think that when they add flight tickets and hotel expenses to their CAR-T cell treatment costs, it will become very expensive to travel, which is not true. Contrary to popular belief, round-trip flight tickets to Turkey for CAR-T cell treatment can be booked very affordably.

In this case, assuming you are staying in Turkey for your CAR-T cell treatment, your total travel expense of flight tickets and accommodation will only cost less than any other developed country, which is nothing compared to the amount that you are saving. The question “why is CAR-T cell treatment cheaper in Turkey?” is so common among patients or people simply curious about getting their medical treatment in Turkey. When it comes to CAR-T cell treatment prices in Turkey, there are 3 factors allowing for cheaper prices:

The currency exchange is favorable for whoever looking for CAR-T cell treatment has a euro, dollar, or pound;

The lower cost of living and cheaper overall medical expenses such as CAR-T cell treatment;

For CAR-T cell treatment, incentives are given by the Turkish Government to medical clinics working with international clients;

All these factors allow for cheaper CAR-T cell treatment prices, but let’s be clear, these prices are cheaper for people with strong currencies (as we said, euro, dollar, Canadian dollar, pound, etc).

Every year, thousands of patients from all over the world come to Turkey to get CAR-T cell treatment. The success of the healthcare system has increased in recent years, especially for CAR-T cell treatment. It’s easy to find well-educated and English-speaking medical professionals in Turkey for all kinds of medical treatment, such as CAR-T cell treatment.

Why Choose Turkey for CAR-T Cell Treatment?

Turkey is a common choice among international patients seeking advanced CAR-T cell treatment. Turkey’s health procedures are safe and effective, with a high success rate, like CAR-T cell treatment. The increasing demand for high-quality CAR-T cell treatment at affordable prices has made Turkey a popular medical travel destination. In Turkey, CAR-T cell treatment is performed by highly experienced and trained doctors with the most advanced technology in the world. CAR-T cell treatment is done in Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, and other major cities. The reasons for choosing CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey are as follows:

High-quality hospitals: Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited hospitals have dedicated CAR-T cell treatment units that are specially designed for patients. International and national strict protocols provide effective and successful CAR-T cell treatment for patients in Turkey.

Qualified experts: The expert teams include nurses and specialist doctors, together to carry out CAR-T cell treatment according to the patient’s needs. All the included doctors are highly experienced in performing CAR-T cell treatment.

Affordable price: The cost of CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey is affordable compared to Europe, the USA, the UK, Singapore, Australia, etc.

The high success rate: Highly experienced specialists, the best available technology, and stringently followed safety guidelines for post-operative care of the patient, resulting in a high success rate for CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey.

Is CAR-T Cell Treatment Safe in Turkey?

Did you know Turkey is one of the most visited destinations for CAR-T cell treatment in the world? It is ranked as one of the most popular tourist destinations for CAR-T cell treatment. Over the years, it has also come to be a very popular medical tourism destination, with many tourists coming in for CAR-T cell treatment. There are so many reasons why Turkey stands out as a leading destination for CAR-T cell treatment. Because Turkey is both safe and easy to travel to, with a regional airport hub and flight connections to pretty much everywhere, it is preferred for CAR-T cell treatment.

The best hospitals in Turkey have experienced medical staff and specialists who have performed thousands of medical services such as CAR-T cell treatment. All procedures and coordination related to CAR-T cell treatment are controlled by the Ministry of Health in accordance with the law. Over many years, the greatest progress in medicine has been observed in the field of CAR-T cell treatment. Turkey is known among foreign patients for its great opportunities in the area of CAR-T cell treatment.

To emphasize, besides the price itself, the key factor in selecting a destination for CAR-T cell treatment is certainly the standard of medical services, the hospital staff’s high level of expertise, hospitality, and the safety of the country.

All-Inclusive Packages for CAR-T Cell Treatment in Turkey

Healthy Türkiye offers all-inclusive packages for CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey at much lower prices. Extremely professional and experienced doctors and technicians carry out high-quality CAR-T cell treatment. The cost of CAR-T cell treatment in European countries can be quite expensive, especially in the UK. Healthy Türkiye provides cheap all-inclusive packages for a long and short stay of CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey. Because of many factors, we can provide you with many opportunities for your CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey.

The price of CAR-T cell treatment differs from other countries due to medical fees, staff labor prices, exchange rates, and market competition. You can save much more on CAR-T cell treatment compared to other countries in Turkey. When you purchase the CAR-T cell treatment all-inclusive package with Healthy Türkiye, our healthcare team will present a list of hotels for you to choose from. In CAR-T cell treatment travel, the price of your stay will be included in the all-inclusive package cost.

In Turkey, when you purchase CAR-T cell treatment all-inclusive packages through Healthy Türkiye, you will always receive VIP transfers. These are provided by Healthy Türkiye, which has contracted with highly qualified hospitals for CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey. The Healthy Türkiye teams will organize everything about CAR-T cell treatment for you and have you picked up from the airport and safely brought to your accommodations. Once settled in the hotel, you will be transferred to and from the clinic or hospital for CAR-T cell treatment. After your CAR-T cell treatment has been successfully completed, the transfer team will return you to the airport in time for your flight home. In Turkey, all packages of CAR-T cell treatment can be arranged upon request, which relaxes the minds of our patients. You can reach out to Healthy Türkiye for everything you need to know about CAR-T cell treatment in Turkey.