56-Year-Old Achieves Remission from Aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with CAR-T Cell Therapy at Medanta
Gurugram: A 56-year-old man, Mr. Sundar Lal Govala, has achieved remission from non-GCB DLBCL (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma), a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma, after undergoing CAR-T Cell Therapy at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram. This case is notable for the unique challenges faced, including complications from pericardial tuberculosis and liver toxicity, which required a tailored treatment approach.
Mr. Govala first sought medical attention in 2022 after experiencing severe vomiting and a lump in his stomach. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and underwent several chemotherapy regimens, including R-CHOP, GDP, and IR2, as well as immunotherapy agents like Brentuximab.
Despite these treatments, his disease continued to progress. By 2024, after multiple failed therapies, he approached Medanta’s Division of Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) and Cancer Institute, where a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Nitin Sood, Senior Director of Medical Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant, recommended CAR-T Cell Therapy.
Before proceeding with the CAR-T infusion, Mr. Govala was diagnosed with pericardial tuberculosis, complicating his treatment due to liver toxicity. The team worked closely with specialists from cardiology and hepatology to adjust the tuberculosis treatment and stabilize his liver function.
After six weeks of preparation, the CAR-T Cell infusion was administered without significant complications. A follow-up PET scan a month later revealed no active disease, marking a remarkable remission for Mr. Govala.
Dr. Nitin Sood explained the complexity of the case: “In a non-GCB DLBCL cancer, the treatment success rate is about 60-70%. In the remaining 30-40%, the next line of therapy works for about half the patients, and then the next line of advanced drugs works for about one-third of them. Mr. Govala is one of those rarest of rare cases where all the five lines of treatment did not work.”
Dr. Sood also highlighted the challenges of treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in India, where about 40,000 new cases are diagnosed annually.
“The prevalence of this aggressive subtype of lymphoma is rising, but its treatment becomes challenging due to limited access to advanced therapies, late-stage diagnosis, and poor overall performance status in patients. These factors highlight the pressing need for research, innovation, affordable treatments, and wider access to bring India closer to global standards in lymphoma care,” he said.
Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta, also emphasized the importance of personalized care in complex cases like Mr. Govala’s. “This case highlights our dedication to personalized care, even in the most complex and challenging cases. In India, cancers are often diagnosed at later stages, and the need for advanced treatments like CAR-T Cell Therapy has never been more urgent. Medanta is not only leveraging cutting-edge technologies but is also a hub for medical research, continuously refining treatment protocols to improve outcomes for our patients. Our multidisciplinary approach, combined with a focus on patient-centric care, allows us to deliver the highest standards of treatment.”
Rishika Verma is a graduate from Delhi University. She joined Medical Dialogues in 2023. Her interest lies in reporting health news, hospital updates, health updates, medical case studies, and advancements in healthcare, etc.