By:DengYue International Business Division

Over the past few years, CAR-T therapy has become one of the most closely watched developments in global oncology. Particularly for patients with hematologic malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, CAR-T has begun reshaping parts of the traditional treatment landscape. At the same time, China’s CAR-T industry has experienced rapid growth. With multiple CAR-T products approved, a growing number of clinical studies underway, and expanding cell therapy centers nationwide, more international patients are actively searching for questions such as:

● “Where can I receive CAR-T therapy in China?”

● “How much does CAR-T treatment cost in China?”

● “Can overseas patients travel to China for CAR-T?”

● “Which Chinese hospitals provide CAR-T treatment?”

For many patients from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, Russian-speaking regions, and even some Western countries, China is increasingly becoming an important destination for advanced cell therapy and hematologic cancer treatment.

However, for international patients, CAR-T is not simply an “advanced technology.” It is a highly specialized medical system involving complex immune engineering, infection management, hospitalization planning, long-term monitoring, and multidisciplinary evaluation. Whether a patient is suitable for CAR-T, how treatment risks are managed, and how the overall treatment timeline is coordinated all require comprehensive assessment by experienced medical teams.

As a result, for overseas patients exploring China’s CAR-T resources, the key issue is not only “where treatment is available,” but also how to systematically understand CAR-T itself, evaluate suitable hospitals, and coordinate the cross-border treatment process.

What Is CAR-T Therapy and Why Has It Attracted Global Attention?

CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy) is a form of cellular immunotherapy. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which directly attacks cancer cells, CAR-T works by genetically modifying a patient’s own immune cells so they can recognize and destroy tumor cells more effectively.

The treatment process generally includes:

● Collecting the patient’s T cells

● Genetically engineering the cells in a laboratory

● Expanding the modified cells

● Infusing the CAR-T cells back into the patient’s body

● Allowing the engineered immune cells to target and attack cancer cells

CAR-T has gained worldwide attention because some patients with relapsed or refractory blood cancers may still obtain new treatment opportunities even after conventional therapies have failed.

Currently, CAR-T is most commonly used in:

● Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

● Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)

● Multiple Myeloma

● Certain relapsed or refractory lymphomas

It is important to emphasize that CAR-T is not a universal cancer treatment. It is not suitable for every cancer type or every patient. Eligibility usually depends on factors such as:

● Cancer type

● Disease stage

● Previous treatment history

● Infection risk

● Organ function

● Immune status

● Overall physical condition

For international patients, CAR-T should therefore be understood not simply as a “technology,” but as a complete treatment system involving cell engineering, infection control, intensive monitoring, and long-term disease management.

Why Has China’s CAR-T Industry Developed So Rapidly?

China’s CAR-T sector has expanded rapidly in recent years due to a combination of policy support, biotechnology investment, scientific research, and the country’s large patient population.

In the past, international patients often associated CAR-T primarily with the United States. Today, however, China has become one of the world’s most active CAR-T research and development markets.

China now has multiple approved CAR-T products, while hospitals and research centers continue advancing areas such as:

● Next-generation CAR-T

● Dual-target CAR-T

● Universal CAR-T

● Solid tumor CAR-T

● CAR-NK therapies

● Combination cell therapies

At the same time, China has built a growing network of hospitals and medical centers involved in CAR-T treatment and research, including:

● Peking University People’s Hospital

● Ruijin Hospital Shanghai

● Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital (Tianjin)

● West China Hospital

● Major hematology and oncology centers nationwide

For many overseas patients, China’s appeal in CAR-T therapy is not only related to treatment costs, but also factors such as:

● Active clinical research

● Rapid development of cell therapies

● Large clinical case volumes

● Concentrated hematology expertise

● Increasing efficiency in treatment coordination

As China’s innovative pharmaceutical industry continues growing, international attention toward China’s cell therapy ecosystem is also increasing significantly.

Which Diseases Are Currently Most Commonly Treated with CAR-T?

At present, CAR-T therapy is most established in hematologic malignancies. International patients most commonly inquire about:

● Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

● Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)

● Multiple Myeloma

● Relapsed or refractory lymphomas

In leukemia treatment, especially relapsed or refractory ALL, CAR-T has become one of the most important emerging treatment approaches worldwide.

In lymphoma, CAR-T is now commonly evaluated for diseases such as DLBCL, particularly for patients who have already undergone chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or even stem cell transplantation.

Meanwhile, the rapid development of BCMA-targeted CAR-T therapies has also made multiple myeloma one of the most closely watched areas in global CAR-T treatment.

Many international patients also ask:

“Can CAR-T be used for lung cancer, liver cancer, or breast cancer?”

At present, CAR-T for solid tumors is still largely in the research and exploratory stage. Compared with blood cancers, solid tumors present additional challenges such as:

● Complex tumor microenvironments

● Limited T-cell infiltration

● Difficulty identifying ideal targets

● High tumor heterogeneity

As a result, solid tumor CAR-T remains an evolving research area with varying progress across different cancer types.

Which Chinese Hospitals Accept International Patients for CAR-T or Oncology Treatment?

For many international patients, the challenge is not simply finding a hospital, but determining whether a hospital truly has:

● International patient services

● English or multilingual communication support

● Multidisciplinary treatment systems (MDT)

● CAR-T or advanced therapy resources

● Long-term cross-border follow-up capabilities

● International case coordination experience

For overseas patients, a hospital’s ability to handle international medical records, remote evaluations, and treatment coordination is often more important than reputation alone.

Currently, the Chinese hospitals attracting international attention generally fall into several categories: hematology and CAR-T centers, solid tumor oncology hospitals, and international medical institutions.

Leading Chinese Hospitals for Hematology and CAR-T

Peking University People’s Hospital

Peking University People’s Hospital is considered one of China’s core hematology centers. The hospital is highly recognized in areas such as:

● Leukemia

● Lymphoma

● Multiple Myeloma

● Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

● CAR-T therapy

For relapsed or refractory blood cancer patients, the hospital has accumulated substantial experience in complex disease management and long-term treatment planning.

Ruijin Hospital Shanghai

Ruijin Hospital has gained growing international attention in CAR-T and cell therapy, particularly in:

● Lymphoma

● Multiple Myeloma

● CAR-T clinical research

● Hematologic malignancies

Many international patients are drawn not only by the hospital’s CAR-T capabilities, but also by Shanghai’s mature international medical infrastructure and strong innovation ecosystem.

Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital (Tianjin)

Although less internationally publicized than some Beijing or Shanghai hospitals, this institution holds a highly important position within China’s hematology system.

The hospital focuses on:

● Leukemia

● Aplastic anemia

● Lymphoma

● Bone marrow transplantation

● Complex blood disorders

It remains one of China’s most specialized hematology centers.

Oncology Hospitals Frequently Considered by International Patients

Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (Guangzhou)

Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center has attracted increasing international attention in recent years. The hospital focuses heavily on:

● Lung cancer

● Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

● Liver cancer

● Gastrointestinal cancers

● Radiation oncology

● Precision oncology

As one of South China’s major oncology centers, it handles extremely high cancer case volumes.

Because Guangzhou maintains strong connections with Southeast Asia and the Middle East, the hospital has also continued expanding its international patient services, including:

● International patient coordination

● English-language communication

● International medical support

● Cross-border treatment assistance

For many Southeast Asian patients, Guangzhou also offers practical advantages in transportation accessibility and cultural familiarity.

Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center

Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center is one of China’s most internationally recognized oncology hospitals. The center is particularly well known for:

● Breast cancer

● Lung cancer

● Gastric cancer

● Colorectal cancer

● Gynecologic oncology

● Precision medicine

The hospital has also continued strengthening its international medical service system in recent years.

Royalalee Cancer Hospital Guangzhou

In addition to major public hospitals, some specialized oncology hospitals focusing on solid tumors and international patient systems are also gaining overseas attention.

Royalalee Cancer Hospital Guangzhou has increasingly expanded its capabilities in:

● Long-term solid tumor management

● MDT multidisciplinary care

● International patient coordination

● Multilingual communication

● Cross-border medical support

● International patient service workflows

Unlike traditional comprehensive hospitals, Royalalee emphasizes oncology specialization and solid tumor-focused management.

According to publicly available information, the hospital focuses on:

● Lung cancer

● Hepatobiliary and pancreatic tumors

● Gastrointestinal cancers

● Breast cancer

● Gynecologic tumors

● Minimally invasive oncology procedures

For many overseas patients, the real complexity lies not only in “finding a hospital,” but also in organizing medical records, obtaining remote evaluations, coordinating communication, arranging travel, and managing long-term follow-up care. As a result, international patient support systems are becoming increasingly important when evaluating hospitals in China.

How Do International Patients Apply for CAR-T Evaluation in China?

For overseas patients, CAR-T treatment usually does not begin with directly booking therapy. Most hospitals first require a medical evaluation.

Commonly requested materials include:

● Pathology reports

● Genetic testing results

● PET-CT or imaging records

● Bone marrow examination reports

● Previous treatment history

● Current medications

● Infection-related test results

● Blood and biochemical laboratory data

Because many patients have medical records from multiple countries, translation and organization of documents are often critical.

Hospitals typically evaluate:

● Whether the patient is suitable for CAR-T

● Whether bridging therapy is needed

● Whether clinical trials may be appropriate

● Infection risks

● Suitability for international treatment coordination

For international patients, the most complicated part is often not identifying a hospital, but managing:

● Medical record preparation

● Hospital selection

● Cross-language communication

● Treatment timeline planning

● Travel coordination

● Follow-up arrangements

This is why many overseas patients first seek support through international medical coordination services.

What Is the Typical CAR-T Treatment Process in China?

Although protocols differ between hospitals, CAR-T treatment generally includes several core stages:

1. Initial Medical Evaluation

Doctors assess disease status, treatment history, and overall health condition.

2. Further Testing in China

Patients may require:

● Blood testing

● Bone marrow evaluation

● Infection screening

● Cardiac and pulmonary assessment

● Imaging examinations

3. T-Cell Collection

The patient’s T cells are collected for laboratory modification.

4. Cell Manufacturing

The engineered CAR-T cells are prepared over several weeks. Some patients may need bridging therapy during this period.

5. Pre-Infusion Preparation

Some patients undergo lymphodepletion therapy before CAR-T infusion.

6. CAR-T Cell Infusion

The engineered CAR-T cells are infused back into the patient.

7. Monitoring and Management

This stage is extremely important because CAR-T can involve complications such as:

● Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)

● Neurological toxicity

● Infection risk

● Bone marrow suppression

Continuous monitoring by experienced medical teams is essential.

How Much Does CAR-T Therapy Cost in China?

This is one of the most common questions among international patients. However, CAR-T costs vary significantly depending on:

● Hospital

● CAR-T product type

● Disease condition

● Whether clinical research is involved

Overall expenses may include:

● Pre-treatment examinations

● Hospitalization

● CAR-T product costs

● Cell manufacturing

● Infection management

● ICU support if required

● Post-treatment monitoring

International patients should also consider:

● Visa expenses

● Accommodation

● Caregiver arrangements

● Translation support

● Long-term stay costs

● Follow-up visits

For most patients, understanding the overall treatment timeline and total cost structure is more important than focusing on a single price estimate.

What Should International Patients Consider Before Traveling to China for CAR-T?

Because CAR-T is a highly complex therapy, careful planning is essential.

International patients should pay particular attention to:

● Long treatment timelines

● Infection management requirements

● Possible long-term follow-up

● Differences in hospital specialties

● Eligibility limitations

● Potential need for bridging therapy

● The fact that solid tumor CAR-T remains largely experimental

The compatibility between a patient’s disease and a hospital’s expertise is often more important than hospital reputation alone.

China’s CAR-T Cross-Border Medical System Is Becoming Increasingly Internationalized

As China’s cell therapy industry continues expanding, the country’s CAR-T ecosystem is attracting growing international attention.

For overseas patients, however, the key questions are not simply:

“Which hospital offers CAR-T?”

but rather:

● Am I suitable for CAR-T?

● Which CAR-T approach may fit my condition?

● Which hospital is most appropriate?

● How should treatment timelines be planned?

● How can cross-border treatment coordination be managed?

Currently, Dengyue primarily provides international patients with:

● Chinese hospital information support

● CAR-T medical resource introductions

● Medical record organization and translation support

● International patient coordination

● Multilingual communication assistance

● Cross-border treatment consultation services

These services help overseas patients better understand China’s CAR-T resources and treatment pathways.

For patients interested in learning more about CAR-T evaluations, hematology centers, or medical travel planning in China, further information may also be obtained through Dengyue’s international patient coordination support services.

This article is intended solely for international medical information and treatment process reference purposes. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.