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Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Hope for stomach, brain cancer? Cancer-fighting immune therapy works on solid tumours in early trials
Despite a failed bone marrow transplant, Delhi's Dr (Col) VK Gupta beat his blood cancer after receiving CAR T-cell therapy at Tata Memorial Hospital. Not only did he recover, he was able to go back to work in his outpatient clinic. He is among those with blood cancer who has benefitted from this cutting edge cancer treatment that re-engineers the body's own immune cells, enabling them to fight the cancerous ones. Can this therapy now work for solid and hard-to-treat tumours as well? Earlier this month, there was good news on this front with two studies indicating increase in life span. Positive results from the first ever phase II trial of CAR T-cell therapy for solid cancers — those in the form of gastrointestinal tumours — were published from China. Another early study on the impact of a double target CAR T-cell therapy on a very difficult-to-treat brain cancer was also published in the US. 'With so many people working on the problem, it is possible that we could soon see CAR T-cell therapy for solid cancers. While the results are unlikely to be as dramatic as we have seen with blood cancers, any hope is good when survival otherwise is just a couple of months,' says Dr Hasmukh Jain, a specialist of blood cancers from Tata Memorial Hospital. He collaborated with the IIT Bombay team that developed the country's first CAR T-cell therapy. CAR T-cell therapy essentially uses a cancer patient's own immune T-cells and engineers them in a laboratory to add receptors that can bind specifically with the cancer cells only. These engineered cells are then multiplied and infused in the patient. Usually, the cancerous cells have the ability to hide from the unmodified T-cells. However, with the new receptors on the T-cells, they cannot. The body's immune system then kills the cancer cells. This, experts say, is because it is much more difficult to target solid cancers than blood cancers. 'One of the biggest problems with CAR T-cell therapy for solid cancers is that there aren't enough good targets. Several of the solid cancer markers are also found on normal, healthy cells, so they cannot be used. There have been cases of pulmonary toxicity with therapies whose target was expressed in small quantities in the lungs. Or, take for example, the BRCA gene mutations in breast cancers; these are expressed by other healthy cells as well,' says Dr Mayank Singh, associate professor of medical oncology at AIIMS-New Delhi. Another challenge is that the same type of cancer may be molecularly very different in different patients — or even within the same patient — making it extremely difficult to find a suitable target for CAR T. Besides, solid tumours are a more complex disease, says Dr Jain. 'Unlike blood cancers, other cancers are not in the blood where the T-cells are. So, they have to find the tumour and enter it. This is difficult as the T- cells are not able to effectively penetrate the tumour microenvironment or the immediate area round the tumour,' he explains. This is hostile towards immune cells and can deactivate them, including the modified T-cells given to patients. The phase II study from China showed that the outcome was better with the new CAR T therapy as compared to the therapy generally prescribed by the physician. Patients with gastrointestinal cancers carrying a specific mutation called CLDN18.2 — having received two unsuccessful treatments previously — were given either the new therapy or existing treatments. The study found that 35 per cent of the patients given the new treatment responded as compared to 4 per cent of those on existing treatments. Those on the new therapy also lived 2.4 months longer on average as compared to the control group. Another new CAR T-cell therapy, which used two targets instead for a very difficult to treat brain tumour called glioblastoma, showed promise in a trial conducted at University of Pennsylvania. The tumours became smaller in nearly two-thirds of the patients with recurrent glioblastoma who received the novel therapy. And, several of the patients have already lived 12 months or longer, which is significant considering that people with this type of cancer typically survive only for six to ten months. Importantly, the researchers also found evidence to suggest that the modified T-cells remained in the patients' immune system and continued to prevent tumour growth over time. Experts say that studies on brain and spinal cancers called gliomas and those targeting CLDN18.2 are probably at the most advanced stages of development and may be approved within a few years. 'Now, researchers are using AI to identify suitable targets for CAR T therapies. This is the reason for the recent increase in trials,' says Dr Singh. The IIT Bombay-incubated start-up ImmunoACT is also working on a therapy that can work on brain and nerve cell cancers called glioblastoma and neuroblastoma. Another therapy that it is pursuing will work on the gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers — the same cancers as the Chinese trial looked at. Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country's space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University's Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor's Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
At 16,249 MW, Punjab's power demand hits all-time high as sweltering heat continues
Punjab on Tuesday recorded its highest ever power demand at 16,249 MW as sweltering heat continued in the state, according to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) data. The previous highest power demand was 16,089 MW, recorded on June 29 last year. Experts said Punjab's power demand is likely to breach 17,000 MW next week amid the ongoing paddy transplantation and heatwave conditions. 'This spike, driven by relentless heat and the paddy sowing season, has put immense pressure on the PSPCL. The load graph at the State Load Dispatch Centre website of Punjab State Transmission Corporation does not show data beyond 16,000 MW and needs to be updated' said VK Gupta, a retired PSPCL engineer. Punjab power minister Harbhajan Singh said PSPCL managed the demand without any power cuts.'This is a landmark moment. For the first time after independence, Punjab has managed its peak power demand without resorting to power cuts,' the minister said. The maximum temperature reached 47.6 degrees Celsius in Bathinda, data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) revealed. According to the data, the temperatures across Punjab were around five degrees Celsius above normal. 'A heatwave was observed in Amritsar, Patiala, Ludhiana and Bathinda reeled under severe heatwave,' said an IMD official. IMD's Chandigarh centre director Surinder Pal said, 'Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions will prevail in Punjab for the next three to four days. People should avoid venturing out during the afternoon. Maximum temperature is likely to drop slightly around June 15 or 16. We are expecting rainfall from June 18.' A PSPCL official said they are prepared to take additional measures, including importing more power and optimising local generation, to meet this anticipated demand. PSPCL officials said that the drawing limit from the northern grid is 10, 400 MW and its maximum power availability would be around 6,400 MW under ideal conditions. They added that all thermal units in the state were running. Among the state-run thermal plants, Ropar facility is generating 680 MW power, Lehra Mohabbat 830 MW and Goindwal 505 MW. Among those from the private sector, Rajpura thermal plant is generating 1,325 MW power and Talwandi Sabo 1,860 MW. 'All hydel units – including three units of Ranjit Sagar Dam – are operating in the afternoon as well. Usually, we operate these units in the morning as we use solar power during the day,' said a PSPCL official. Experts said if the power demand exceeds 16,800 MW, the consumers will start facing power cuts as it will surpass the transmission capacity infrastructure of PSPCL. The officials added that the PSPCL supplied 3,295 lakh units of power with a maximum demand of around 15,640 MW on Monday. With inputs from HTC Chandigarh
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Indian Express
Punjab witnesses all-time high power demand of 16,249 MW amid heatwave
Sweltering heat sweeping across Punjab, coupled with the peak paddy transplantation season, has pushed the state's power demand to an all-time high. On Tuesday, Punjab's electricity demand soared to a record-breaking 16,249 megawatts (MW), surpassing last year's peak of 16,089 MW, recorded on June 29, 2024. This demand spike has placed immense pressure on the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). According to the State Load Despatch Centre website of the Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL), the load graph currently does not display figures beyond 16,000 MW, and it needs to be updated, said V K Gupta, a retired PSPCL engineer. A senior PSPCL official confirmed that the load had indeed touched 16,249 MW due to the ongoing heatwave and the high irrigation requirements of the paddy sowing season. If the current weather conditions persist, experts warn that Punjab's power demand could exceed 17,000 MW in the coming days. PSPCL has stated it is prepared to take additional steps, including importing power and optimising local generation, to meet the anticipated surge in demand. The drawing limit from the northern grid is 10,400 MW, while the state's maximum power availability is approximately 6,500 MW under ideal conditions. All thermal power units in the state are operational now. In the public sector, the Ropar thermal power plant is generating 680 MW, the Lehra Mohabbat plant 830 MW, and Goindwal 505 MW. In the private sector, the Rajpura thermal power plant is generating 1,325 MW and the Talwandi Sabo plant 1,860 MW. All hydro units, including three units of the Ranjit Sagar dam, are operating in the afternoon. After an unusually cool start to June, with good rainfall last month keeping temperatures in check, the return of summer heat has caused a sharp rise in temperatures. Punjab witnessed an increase of approximately 3,000 MW in power demand on Tuesday compared to Sunday, marking a significant surge. In Punjab, the temperature has touched 46.1 degrees Celsius in Samrala (Ludhiana), and in other parts of the state, it ranged from 40.8 to 44.6 degrees Celsius. This heatwave has led to a steep rise in power demand over the last two days. According to records from PSPCL, the first five days of June saw relatively moderate demand of around 10,500 MW. On Friday, demand rose to just under 12,000 MW; on Saturday and Sunday, it increased to 13,550 MW; and on Monday, it peaked at around 15,600 MW. Paddy transplantation in Punjab began in a staggered manner between June 1 and June 9, in three phases. Paddy cultivation in the state covers over 30 lakh hectares. The water level in the Bhakra dam is at 1,556.75 ft, which is 17 ft lower than last year's level of 1,573.76 ft. In the Ranjit Sagar dam, the water level stands at 507.17 m, compared to 507.90 m on the corresponding day last year.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Dish TV's Watcho launches platform for professional content creators
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a digital landscape where content creation is growing rapidly, but discovery and monetisation continue to pose challenges, Direct-to-Home (DTH) operator Dish TV has introduced Fliqs on its OTT platform Watcho, offering original content, exclusive titles, and personalised viewing is intended to serve as a platform for the production, publishing, and monetisation of professionally created content. It is designed to assist professional content producers across the content lifecycle—from ideation and production to TV officials said that the platform offers tools for concept development, access to production resources including equipment and talent, and various monetisation models such as ad-supported, subscription, and free-to-view also retain rights to their content and receive transparent revenue-sharing terms. Fliqs enables content producers to subtitle their work in 15 languages and dub it in 10, helping them reach diverse audiences across regions.'Fliqs is a professional space for creators who want to retain ownership and monetise their work effectively,' said VK Gupta, CTO of Dish TV India, at the launch. 'We are creating a transparent, creator-first platform that gives professionals complete control over their content lifecycle.'Market watchers, however, say that Fliqs will face challenges like incremental costs, user acquisition in a crowded OTT space, content quality control, and managing creator expectations while competing with deep-pocketed established pointed to ongoing challenges in the industry, particularly for regional content creators who often struggle to get visibility on larger platforms. Fliqs currently hosts more than 2,000 hours of content, including previously unreleased is supported by Dish TV's existing infrastructure, which includes a user base of 15 million DTH households and 8 million monthly active OTT revenue model offers creators over 50% of earnings while Dish TV absorbs technology and marketing costs. The platform had over 100 creators onboard at the time of launch, including international production companies.
