Health Professionals
Patients & Families
Careers 
PATIENT & FAMILY GUIDANCE
Navigating your path to personalized cell therapy
When standard cancer treatments are no longer working, cell therapy offers a new biological pathway. CARA Yakhteh is dedicated to standing beside patients and their families with clear information, empathetic guidance, and a transparent roadmap to care.
Here you will find plain-language explanations of how CARTIVATE works, what you will experience across each phase of treatment, and how to connect with authorized hospital partner centers.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS
What is personalized cell therapy?
Unlike conventional chemotherapy or radiation that attacks all rapidly dividing cells throughout the body, CAR T-cell therapy is a targeted biological treatment. It trains your own immune system to specifically recognize and eliminate cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
1. Made from Your Own Cells
The medicine is made exclusively for you using your own white blood cells (called T cells). Because it uses your biological profile, there is no risk of graft rejection from a foreign donor.
2. Equipped with a Guided Sensor
In CARA Yakhteh’s certified cleanrooms, your cells receive a specialized receptor (CAR). Think of it like a biological radar that enables your T cells to pinpoint a specific protein (CD19) on cancer cells.
3. A Vigilant Living Medicine
Once returned to your body through an infusion, these engineered cells continue to live, multiply, and circulate in your bloodstream, providing an ongoing biological defense against cancer recurrence.
STEP-BY-STEP OVERVIEW
What to expect across your treatment
Cell therapy is carried out in four structured phases, managed in close collaboration between your treating hospital team and CARA Yakhteh’s scientists:
Doctor Evaluation
Your oncologist reviews your disease history, previous therapies, and blood work to ensure CARTIVATE is medically appropriate and that your overall health qualifies for cell collection.
Cell Collection
At an accredited apheresis center, your T cells are gathered from a routine blood separation procedure. It takes approximately 3 to 4 hours, and you remain comfortable and awake throughout.
cGMP Engineering
Your cells are rushed under temperature-controlled monitoring to CARA Yakhteh’s certified cleanrooms. They are genetically reprogrammed, expanded, and undergo strict safety and potency tests.
Infusion & Recovery
Your finished CARTIVATE product is returned to the hospital and given as a simple IV drip. Your oncology care team keeps you under close, comfortable observation for monitoring.
AUTHORIZED TREATMENT NETWORK
Partner hospital centers for CARTIVATE
Because CAR T-cell therapy requires dedicated cell collection equipment, specialized hospital storage, and experienced hematology teams, it is administered through accredited partner hospitals and university oncology centers:
Shariati Hospital — BMT & Cell Therapy Center
Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)
Iran’s pioneer national center for bone marrow transplantation, apheresis, and clinical cellular immunotherapy.
Mahak Pediatric Cancer Hospital
Specialized Pediatric Oncology Center
Premier dedicated hospital for pediatric leukemia and lymphoma with comprehensive apheresis and family support units.
Cancer Institute — Imam Khomeini Hospital
Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS)
The largest specialized oncology and hematology center in Iran, offering integrated inpatient and apheresis care.
Are you receiving treatment in another city or province?
CARA Yakhteh coordinates sample logistics across the country. Our clinical team works directly with your local oncologist to provide collection guidelines and manage hospital admission coordination.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Here are clear answers to the most common questions raised by patients and caregivers exploring CAR T-cell therapy:
Who is eligible to receive CARTIVATE? ↓
CARTIVATE is indicated for pediatric and adult patients diagnosed with CD19-positive B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) or select aggressive B-cell lymphomas that have relapsed or shown resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Your treating oncologist evaluates your eligibility through standard blood tests, bone marrow aspiration, and physical fitness criteria.
How long does the cell manufacturing process take? ↓
From the day your white blood cells are collected at the hospital apheresis center, the multi-step genetic modification, cell multiplication, and strict sterility release testing take approximately 3 to 4 weeks. During this manufacturing window, your doctor may prescribe bridging therapy to keep your disease stable.
Is the cell collection (leukapheresis) painful? ↓
No. Leukapheresis is very similar to an extended blood or platelet donation. You relax in a comfortable bed or reclining chair while a specialized device separates your white blood cells and safely returns all other blood components. You remain awake, can read or watch television, and usually go home the same day.
How can my personal oncologist connect with CARA Yakhteh? ↓
Your oncologist can directly contact our Medical Affairs Department to receive the comprehensive referral package, inclusion checklist, and sample transit logistics. You can also share our dedicated Physician Portal link or referral hotline with your care team.