From Kyrgyzstan to Xi'an: How CAR-T Therapy Gave a 70-Year-Old a Second Life
"They Gave Me a Second Life" — A Kyrgyz Patient's 8-Year Journey to Remission in China
On his 70th birthday, Mevazov Lagube sat in a hospital ward in Xi'an, China — 3,500 kilometers from his home in Kyrgyzstan — holding a birthday cake from the medical team that had just saved his life.
"I almost lost all hope," he said. "But now I can see the future again."
His story is not just a medical case. It's a testament to what happens when a patient refuses to give up, and when a hospital on the other side of the world refuses to let him fall through the cracks — even across eight years and thousands of miles.
Chapter 1: The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
In 2016, Mevazov Lagube was diagnosed with multiple myeloma — a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. Despite continuous treatment in Kyrgyzstan, his disease was never fully controlled. Quality of life deteriorated. Standard therapies were failing.
Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer worldwide. While new targeted drugs have improved survival significantly, the disease follows a cruel pattern: respond, relapse, respond less, relapse worse. Most patients eventually progress to refractory disease where no available drug works.
Mevazov was heading down that path.
Chapter 2: Hearing About CAR-T in China
Through a business contact, Mevazov learned that Xi'an Jiaotong University Second Affiliated Hospital was running a globally pioneering clinical trial — one of the world's first BCMA-targeted CAR-T cell therapy studies for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
He traveled to Xi'an, only to discover that his condition at the time didn't meet the trial's enrollment criteria. It was a devastating blow.
But what happened next defined his relationship with this hospital.
Chapter 3: Eight Years of Remote Care
Professor He Aili and Associate Professor Wang Fangxia — the lead investigators — didn't simply turn him away. They provided detailed treatment recommendations and, crucially, continued to guide his care via WeChat for the next eight years.
Over those years, Mevazov's disease progressed twice. Both times, the XJTU team conducted remote consultations, adjusted his treatment plan from across the border, and helped him achieve remission again.
This kind of sustained, cross-border physician-patient relationship is extraordinarily rare. It speaks to a level of dedication that goes far beyond what any protocol requires.
Chapter 4: The Disease Returns — For the Last Time
In early 2024, Mevazov's myeloma progressed again. This time, Professor He Aili's recommendation was clear: come back to China for CAR-T cell therapy.
The disease had become refractory to conventional treatments. CAR-T was his best remaining option.
Struggling with relapsed myeloma or another blood cancer? China's CAR-T programs are among the most experienced in the world. Learn about cancer treatment options →
Chapter 5: The CAR-T Treatment Process
In February 2024, Mevazov returned to Xi'an. The medical team — Professor He Aili, Associate Professor Wang Fangxia, and attending physician Dr. Zhang Yang — conducted a thorough evaluation and designed a precise treatment timeline:
| Stage | Timeline | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation | February 2024 | Complete disease assessment, organ function tests, treatment planning |
| Cell collection | March 2024 | T-cells harvested from Mevazov's blood via leukapheresis |
| Manufacturing | March-April 2024 | T-cells genetically engineered to target BCMA protein on myeloma cells |
| Lymphodepletion | Early April 2024 | Short chemotherapy course to prepare the immune system |
| CAR-T infusion | April 8, 2024 | BCMA-targeted CAR-T cells infused intravenously |
| CRS management | Day +3 | Grade 2 cytokine release syndrome — fever and fatigue managed with tocilizumab |
| Stabilization | Day +7-14 | Symptoms resolved; monitoring continued |
| Discharge | Day +14 | Stable enough to leave the hospital |
| Response assessment | Day +30 | Disease markers dramatically decreased — complete remission |
Chapter 6: What Is BCMA-Targeted CAR-T Therapy?
For readers unfamiliar with this technology:
CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy takes a patient's own immune cells, genetically engineers them to recognize cancer, and infuses them back to hunt and destroy tumor cells.
BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen) is a protein found on the surface of myeloma cells. By engineering T-cells to target BCMA specifically, the therapy creates an army of cancer-killing cells that seek out myeloma wherever it hides in the body.
The concept was pioneered by Professor Carl H. June at the University of Pennsylvania — the "father of CAR-T" — whose work in 2012 saved a 5-year-old leukemia patient named Emily Whitehead, who remains cancer-free 13 years later.
XJTU Second Affiliated Hospital launched one of the world's first BCMA CAR-T clinical trials in 2016 — the same year Mevazov first visited. Their research has since been presented at the world's top three hematology conferences (ASCO, ASH, EHA) and published in leading journals including Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Chapter 7: Why Mevazov Isn't the Only International Patient
Mevazov's case attracted attention, but he's not alone. XJTU Second Affiliated Hospital's myeloma CAR-T program has drawn patients from:
- Kyrgyzstan (Mevazov)
- Sweden
- France
These patients chose Xi'an over treatment options in their home countries or in the United States — not because China was cheaper (though it is), but because this specific hospital had clinical data and experience that few centers worldwide could match in BCMA-targeted CAR-T for myeloma.
Chapter 8: CAR-T Cost — China vs. the World
| Item | China (XJTU Second Hospital) | United States | Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAR-T cell manufacturing + infusion | $30,000 - $50,000 | $373,000 - $475,000 | $350,000 - $400,000 |
| Hospitalization (3-4 weeks) | $5,000 - $10,000 | $50,000 - $100,000 | $30,000 - $60,000 |
| CRS management (tocilizumab etc.) | Included | $10,000 - $30,000 additional | $10,000 - $20,000 |
| Follow-up monitoring (3 months) | $2,000 - $4,000 | $15,000 - $30,000 | $10,000 - $20,000 |
| Total estimated | $40,000 - $65,000 | $450,000 - $635,000 | $400,000 - $500,000 |
The cost difference is not due to lower quality. It reflects China's domestic CAR-T manufacturing capability, lower hospital operating costs, and government-supported pricing for clinical innovation.
Chapter 9: The Hospital's CAR-T Program — By the Numbers
XJTU Second Affiliated Hospital's hematology department has built one of China's most mature myeloma programs over 9 years:
- 2016: Launched one of the world's first BCMA CAR-T clinical trials
- Core team: 9 physicians including Professors Zhao Wanhong, He Aili, Wang Fangxia, and Dr. Zhang Yang
- Capabilities: CAR-T cell therapy, CAR-NK cell therapy, regional cell therapy center
- Research output: Presentations at ASCO, ASH, EHA; publications in JCO, JHO, BJH
- International patients: Kyrgyzstan, Sweden, France
Chapter 10: Is CAR-T Right for You?
CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma is currently indicated for:
- Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma — After 2 or more prior lines of therapy
- BCMA-positive disease — Confirmed by bone marrow biopsy
- Adequate organ function — Heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys must be able to tolerate the treatment
- No active, uncontrolled infections
Patients who are NOT candidates:
- Active central nervous system involvement
- Severe cardiac dysfunction (ejection fraction below 40%)
- Uncontrolled systemic infection
- Prior CAR-T therapy with the same target (in some cases)
Chapter 11: Risks and Side Effects — Honest Assessment
CAR-T therapy is powerful but not without risks:
| Side Effect | Frequency | Severity | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) | 70-90% of patients | Mostly Grade 1-2; Grade 3+ in 5-15% | Tocilizumab, steroids, supportive care |
| Neurotoxicity (ICANS) | 10-30% | Usually mild and reversible | Monitoring, steroids if needed |
| Prolonged cytopenias | 30-50% | Low blood counts for weeks-months | Transfusions, growth factors |
| Infection risk | Elevated for 3-6 months | Variable | Prophylactic antibiotics, monitoring |
Mevazov experienced Grade 2 CRS — intermittent high fever with fatigue and poor appetite — which resolved within days after tocilizumab treatment. This is a typical and manageable response.
Chapter 12: About XJTU Second Affiliated Hospital
- Affiliated with Xi'an Jiaotong University — C9 League (China's Ivy League equivalent)
- Hematology department with dedicated myeloma subspecialty team
- Regional cell therapy center — CAR-T and CAR-NK manufacturing capability on-site
- Established track record of treating international patients with cross-border follow-up
- Located in Xi'an, SinomedTrip's home city
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international patients access CAR-T therapy at this hospital?
Yes. The hospital has already treated patients from Kyrgyzstan, Sweden, and France. SinomedTrip coordinates the entire process — from medical record translation to visa support, accommodation, and bilingual case management.
How long do I need to stay in China for CAR-T treatment?
Approximately 6-8 weeks total: 1-2 weeks for evaluation and cell collection, 2-3 weeks for manufacturing, 1 week for lymphodepletion and infusion, and 2 weeks for post-infusion monitoring.
Is the treatment available outside of clinical trials?
Yes. While the initial BCMA CAR-T work began as a clinical trial in 2016, the hospital now offers CAR-T therapy as a standard treatment option for eligible patients.
Will my doctor at home be able to manage follow-up after I return?
The XJTU team provides detailed discharge instructions in English and offers ongoing remote consultation via WeChat or email — exactly as they did for Mevazov over 8 years. SinomedTrip also coordinates with your home physician to ensure seamless continuity of care.
What if CAR-T doesn't work for me?
Not all patients achieve complete remission. The hospital's myeloma team offers alternative strategies including CAR-NK cell therapy, combination regimens, and enrollment in next-generation clinical trials.
Fighting multiple myeloma or another blood cancer? Request a free CAR-T eligibility assessment →
