In early November, a team of physicians at Jiahui International Cancer Center (JICC), part of Jiahui International Hospital, Shanghai’s first large-scale international tertiary hospital, successfully treated a 78-year-old patient from New Zealand with relapsed multiple myeloma using CAR T-cell therapy. This treatment highlights JICC’s growing reputation as a destination for cutting-edge oncology care for international patients.
China is a global leader in CAR-T development, ranking second only to the United States in clinical trials and patient volume, making it a key hub for this advanced treatment.
The patient received Zevorcabtagene autoleucel (zevor-Cel, CT053; CARsgen), a fully human BCMA (B-Cell Maturation Antigen) autologous CAR T-cell for the treatment of patients diagnosed with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (rrMM).
Zevorcabtagene autoleucel comprises a fully human BCMA-specific scFv (25C2), a CD8α hinge region and transmembrane domain, a 4-1BB costimulatory domain, and a CD3-ζ T cell activation domain.[1]
The agent is designed to recognize and induce selective toxicity against BCMA-expressing tumor cells, thereby eliminating them.[1]
In February 2024, Zevorcabtagene autoleucel received its first approval in China for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have progressed after ≥ 3 prior lines of therapy (including ≥ 1 proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent). [1]
Following treatment, the patient was discharged in stable condition.
Conventional therapy
The patient, a retired family medicine doctor with 40 years of experience, had exhausted all conventional treatment options in his home country. Following recommendations from his hematologist and extensive personal research, he chose JICC for Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.
“The entire treatment process at Jiahui was very professional, and I received meticulous care,” the patient noted.
“The nursing team, in particular, looked after me like a family member. The medical service here is world-class,” he added.
The patient also noted the hospital’s efficiency, stating that diagnostic imaging was completed quickly, with most reports available the next day—a turnaround he said would be uncommon in his home country.
The patient’s journey began with a remote consultation via Zoom with the Cancer Center’s multidisciplinary team, including Dr. Xuan Linli, MD, Chief of Medical Oncology, and Hao Siguo, MD, Chief Hematology Consultant. The team’s deep expertise and the hospital’s robust multidisciplinary support system—including hematology, critical care, and specialized nursing—convinced the patient to travel over 9,000 kilometers to Shanghai for treatment.
In mid-September, the patient had his first planned hospital visit for tests and T-cell harvesting, after which he returned home. He returned to Shanghai in early October for hospital admission to receive the CAR T-cell infusion. Just two weeks later, the patient achieved complete minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity in his bone marrow, and free light chains (FLCs) returned to normal, confirming the efficacy of the CAR-T treatment.
JICC’s ability to rapidly onboard and manage the entire CAR T-cell treatment process—from T-cell harvesting and infusion to inpatient monitoring and aftercare—coupled with the affordability of the procedure in China, makes it an increasingly attractive option for international patients.
International Patients
The successful case is part of a broader trend. Jiahui International Cancer Center has received a growing number of inquiries about advanced oncology treatment from Europe, North America, Singapore, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, including the United States, Canada, France, Switzerland, Greece, Belgium, Qatar, and Russia.
In 2025, JICC treated 24,000 international patients based in Shanghai, including 35 who traveled specifically for medical tourism. This reflects its commitment to providing world-class, patient-centered care.
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Reference
[1] Dhillon S. Zevorcabtagene Autoleucel: First Approval. Mol Diagn Ther. 2024 Jul;28(4):501-506. doi: 10.1007/s40291-024-00723-z. Epub 2024 Jun 18. PMID: 38888762.
Featured image courtesy © 2025 Jiahui International Cancer Center. Used with permission.
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