[Expats & Ailments] Filipino Blood Cancer Patient Recovers After Receiving CAR-T Cell Therapy in Shanghai

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A 62-year-old Philippine patient battling terminal-stage blood cancer chartered a flight to Shanghai and is now cancer-free after two months of comprehensive treatment with cutting-edge CAR-T cell therapy.

The patient said he was amazed by Shanghai's rapid medical response, high-efficiency medical services, top-tier clinical capabilities, excellent service quality, and highly cost-effective, reasonable costs during his first medical tourism experience.

"Shanghai has been amazing," said Alfredo with tears in his eyes. "The treatment went smoothly. I strongly recommend Shanghai CAR-T therapy to all cancer patients. I will return to Manila tumor-free. I advise cancer patients to fight and never give up. The doctors are ready to help!"

He was discharged yesterday and will return to the Philippines tomorrow. He is expected to come back in three months for follow-up checks.

A patient's immune cells are extracted, reprogrammed in a lab and modified to target and kill cancer cells in CAR-T therapy. It is a complex medical procedure that requires a well-trained multidisciplinary team to monitor and care for the patient throughout treatment.

Alfredo was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2024. He had received different treatments in Singapore and the Philippines, undergoing five lines of previous chemotherapies, yet none proved sustainable – each treatment worked temporarily but failed within a few weeks.

"We kept searching for a chance to receive CAR-T therapy. Some doctors advised me to look to China, as it is at the forefront of CAR-T cell therapy globally," he said. "My son got in touch with Shanghai SinoUnited Hospital, which promptly arranged a smooth teleconsultation for us. We decided to come to Shanghai a few days later."

In critical condition, he was flown by a chartered flight and taken by ambulance to the hospital upon arrival at the Pudong International Airport.

"When the patient arrived, his condition was extremely severe, and he was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit," said Dr Lily Zhou, the patient's attending physician and chief of the hematology department and international CAR-T cell therapy center at Shanghai SinoUnited Hospital.

"He had undergone various combinations of chemo before, but his cancer was highly aggressive and progressed rapidly. His tumors were growing at a fast pace, with numerous masses spread across his body in the muscle, compressing multiple organs, which caused swelling of lower limbs, deep vein thrombosis and renal dysfunction."

"We first implemented comprehensive supportive treatments, including nutritional support, blood pressure regulation, blood transfusions, and antibiotics, to stabilize his vital signs and physical condition before proceeding with the CAR-T cell therapy," Zhou explained.

"All of his tumor masses have since disappeared completely after CAR-T therapy, and the latest PET-CT scan has officially confirmed that he is cancer-free and the widespread cancer masses have disappeared.

"The entire treatment process was very challenging, and this outcome can truly be called a medical miracle. Even his local doctors in the Philippines have called to inquire how we achieved this remarkable result."

She noted that the success stems in large part from China's wider range of available medical treatments, particularly CAR-T therapy, which is inaccessible in many countries across the globe.

"Many of our international patients consult medical experts in multiple countries before choosing to come to China for treatment. This patient's family consulted multiple centers in the United States, Singapore and the Philippines earlier this year, and our hospital was the first to provide an immediate response," Zhou added.

"They ultimately chose Shanghai because of our medical capacity, also after comparing the medical expertise, treatment processes and cost-effectiveness. The cost of CAR-T therapy in Western countries is three to five times higher than that in China, and in the United States, it is more than five times as expensive.

"Additionally, drug manufacture, patient-centric medical services, and overall medical procedures are far more efficient. In the US, patients typically wait one to two months for hospital admission and another month or more for drug preparation before transfusion – something critically ill patients simply cannot afford to wait for."

Dr Kathy Shi, CEO of SinoUnited Health, stated that this case serves as an excellent testament to Shanghai's world-class high-end medical capabilities, which are fully in line with international standards.

"A patient-centric approach, efficient access to medical services, and rapid clinical decision-making are the key advantages that attract international patients to our hospital and to Shanghai," she remarked.