ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Pakistan has achieved a historic milestone in modern medical science by successfully performing its first-ever CAR T-cell therapy procedure, marking a major breakthrough in advanced cancer treatment. The Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre carried out the landmark procedure after years of research and innovation by specialists from the Army Medical Corps. A 21-year-old patient has made a full recovery following the treatment.
Key facts
- Centre: Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre (AFBMTC), Rawalpindi
- Performed by: Army Medical Corps specialists after years of research and innovation
- Patient: 21-year-old, made a full recovery
- Pakistan has joined the ranks of countries capable of offering CAR T-cell therapy
CAR T-cell therapy, or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, works by extracting T-cells from the patient’s own body, genetically engineering them in a laboratory to identify and destroy specific cancer cells, and reinfusing them into the patient. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is most often used to treat blood cancers including certain types of leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. It is widely regarded as one of the most significant advances in cancer treatment in decades, offering new hope to patients whose cancer has returned despite earlier treatment.
The achievement highlights Pakistan’s growing medical expertise and its ability to deliver one of the world’s most sophisticated therapies for complex diseases. The patient and family demonstrated exemplary resilience throughout the process.
What makes this historic
- Pakistan’s first-ever CAR T-cell therapy procedure
- Pakistan joins the US, UK, Germany, India and China among countries offering this therapy
- Treatment developed and performed within Pakistan by Army Medical Corps specialists
- Opens access to world-class cancer treatment for Pakistani patients without travelling abroad
With this success, Pakistan has joined the ranks of countries capable of offering cutting-edge CAR T-cell therapy, strengthening its standing in the field of advanced cancer care. The achievement reinforces national confidence in Pakistan’s healthcare system and reflects the country’s continued progress in modern medicine.∎
