Command Hospital Lucknow Becomes First in Army Central Command to Administer CAR T-Cell Therapy

Lucknow, November 6, 2026: Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow, has successfully administered Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy to a 57-year-old woman suffering from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, in a major development for specialised cancer care within the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).

The patient underwent the advanced immunotherapy procedure at the hospital and is reported to be stable and ready for discharge after treatment. According to the source, this is the first successful CAR T-cell therapy case under the Indian Army’s Central Command.

With this, Command Hospital, Lucknow, has also become the second government hospital in Uttar Pradesh to carry out CAR T-cell therapy successfully, after the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI).

CAR T-cell therapy is a form of advanced cancer immunotherapy in which a patient’s T-cells are collected, modified in a laboratory to recognise specific proteins on cancer cells, and then infused back into the body to identify and destroy malignant cells. The treatment has emerged as an important option for some blood cancers, particularly selected forms of leukaemia and lymphoma.

For patients whose cancer has not responded well to conventional treatment, CAR T-cell therapy can offer an additional route of care. In the case of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, treatment choices may vary depending on the type and stage of the disease, and can include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted medicines, radiation therapy and advanced cellular therapies such as CAR T-cell treatment.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma refers to a group of cancers affecting the lymphatic system, which is a key part of the immune system. The successful use of CAR T-cell therapy in this case reflects the expanding range of complex procedures now being delivered at Command Hospital, Central Command.

The development also highlights the growing capability of Armed Forces medical institutions to adopt newer healthcare technologies and broaden access to specialised treatment facilities. The AFMS medical team involved in the case was credited with the clinical expertise, dedication and coordination required to carry out the procedure successfully.

The achievement is another step in the military medical services’ broader effort to advance clinical excellence, medical innovation and high-quality patient care.