King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh – United Arab Emirates
About Dr. Abdulwahab A. Albabtain
Dr. Abdulwahab Albabtain is a Consultant Hematologist specialising in Lymphoma, Myeloma, stem cell transplantation, and CAR-T cellular therapy, serving international patients seeking expert lymphoma/myeloma specialist care in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is a pioneer in the Middle East’s first CAR-T cell therapy programme and contributes to groundbreaking point-of-care CAR-T manufacturing research.
- Consultant Hematologist with international fellowship training in BMT and cellular therapy
- Key contributor to the first CAR-T cell therapy programme in the Middle East
- Co-author on a 2024 real-world Axi-Cel CAR-T study in refractory/relapsed B-cell lymphoma
- Active in T-cell ALL, AML, DLBCL, and Hodgkin lymphoma management and research
- US-trained at Stanford University, Karmanos, and Wayne State University School of Medicine
Qualifications & Credentials
Medical Degrees
- MBBS — King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Internal Medicine Residency
Fellowships & Special Training
- Fellowship — Adult Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies
- Fellowship — Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
- International training — Stanford University, USA
- Training — Karmanos Cancer Institute / Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA
- Training — St. John Providence Health System, USA
Certifications & Accreditations
- Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) — Consultant
Areas of Expertise
Major Conditions Treated
- Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)
- Hodgkin Lymphoma (Classical and Nodular)
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)
- Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML)
- Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML)
- T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
- Refractory/Relapsed B-Cell Malignancies
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Sub-specialties
- CAR-T Cell Therapy: CD19-directed CAR-T (Axi-Cel) for relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma and pioneering point-of-care rapid CAR-T manufacturing — positioning Dr. Albabtain as a leading lymphoma and myeloma specialist in Riyadh for international patients.
- Stem Cell Transplantation: Autologous and allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation including matched related, unrelated, and haplo-identical donor transplants.
- Hematologic Malignancy Management: Comprehensive care for lymphoid and myeloid malignancies with multidisciplinary tumour board review.
Advanced Procedures & Treatments
- CAR-T Cell Therapy (Axi-Cel and SWIFT ultra-fast point-of-care CAR-T)
- Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
- Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation
- Haplo-Identical Donor Transplantation
- Chemotherapy (R-CHOP, HyperCVAD, Pediatric-Inspired AYA protocols)
- Targeted Therapy (BTK inhibitors, Anti-CD20, Anti-CD22)
- Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy (Nivolumab)
- Bispecific Antibody Therapy
- Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration
- PET-CT-Guided Lymphoma Staging
Professional Experience
Current Affiliation
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC), Riyadh — Consultant Hematologist and BMT and Cellular Therapy, Department of Hematology, Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy (Present)
Past Affiliations
- King Khalid University Hospital / King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh — Head, Hematology Unit (Past)
- Stanford University, USA — Fellowship / Training Appointment (Past)
- Karmanos Cancer Institute / Wayne State University School of Medicine, USA — Training Appointment (Past)
- St. John Providence Health System, USA — Training Appointment (Past)
Academic & Research Roles
- Investigator — KFSHRC CAR-T Cell Therapy Programme
- Investigator — SWIFT CAR-T Point-of-Care Manufacturing Research
- Contributor — KFSHRC Multidisciplinary Lymphoma / Myeloma Tumour Board
Key Achievements
- Contributing investigator on the Middle East's first CAR-T cell therapy programme
- Co-author on SWIFT ultra-fast CAR-T manufacturing research reducing production time to ~30 hours
- Co-author of T-ALL/LBL-AYA outcomes research demonstrating 71% overall survival with pediatric-inspired protocol
- Published research contributor across leading international hematology and oncology journals
Awards & Recognitions
National & International Awards
- Featured Speaker — Kuwait Hematology Conference 2024 (KHC 2024)
Professional Memberships
- American Society of Hematology (ASH)
- European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)
- Saudi Society of Hematology
Research & Publications
Published Papers (Selected)
- Syed F, Warda W, ..., Albabtain A, et al. "Disrupting the global CAR T paradigm from the Middle East: Ultra-fast swift CAR T and scalable point-of-care manufacturing of autologous CAR T cells for hematologic malignancies." Blood. 2025;146(Suppl 1):2406. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2025-2406.
- Atout M, Elwaheidi H, Maarouf R, Albabtain A, et al. "Minimal Residual Disease Testing for Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma." Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2025.05.005.
- Alsuhaibani K, Hejab A, ..., Albabtain A. "Non-Western Real-World Experience of Axi-Cel CAR-T in Refractory/Relapsed B-Cell Lymphoma from a Tertiary Center in Saudi Arabia." Blood. 2024;144(Suppl 1):7824.
- Alyamany R, El Fakih R, Alnughmush A, Albabtain A, et al. "A comprehensive review of the role of bone marrow biopsy and PET-CT in the evaluation of bone marrow involvement in adults newly diagnosed with DLBCL." Frontiers in Oncology. 2024;14:1301979. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1301979.
- Hanbali A, Kotb A, ..., Albabtain A, et al. "Improved survival of adolescents and young adults patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia." Int J Hematol Oncol. 2023;12(1):IJH42.
- Farhan K, Albabtain A, Alhayli S, et al. "Successful Restoration of Nivolumab Efficacy Post Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Hodgkin's Lymphoma." Blood. 2022;140(Suppl 1):12048-12049.
Ongoing Research & Clinical Interests
- CAR-T cell therapy for B-cell lymphoma and myeloma
- Point-of-care cellular therapy manufacturing in resource-limited settings
- Minimal residual disease (MRD) testing in DLBCL
- AYA (adolescent and young adult) acute leukaemia protocols
Estimated Treatment Costs
| Procedure / Consultation | Estimated Cost (INR) | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Hematology / BMT Consultation | ₹2,500 – ₹6,000 | $30 – $72 |
| Chemotherapy (per cycle, regimen-dependent) | ₹25,000 – ₹2,00,000 | $300 – $2,400 |
| Autologous Stem Cell Transplant | ₹15,00,000 – ₹25,00,000 | $18,000 – $30,000 |
| Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant | ₹25,00,000 – ₹45,00,000 | $30,000 – $54,000 |
| CAR-T Cell Therapy (Axi-Cel) | ₹1,25,00,000 – ₹3,50,00,000 | $150,000 – $420,000 |
| PET-CT Scan | ₹25,000 – ₹50,000 | $300 – $600 |
| Bone Marrow Biopsy | ₹10,000 – ₹25,000 | $120 – $300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What advanced technologies does Dr. Abdulwahab Albabtain use in Lymphoma / Myeloma treatment?
Dr. Abdulwahab Albabtain uses CAR-T cell therapy (Axi-Cel and point-of-care SWIFT CAR-T), autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation, haplo-identical donor transplants, PET-CT guided lymphoma staging, MRD testing via NGS and flow cytometry, and targeted therapies including BTK inhibitors and bispecific antibodies. Virtual consultations are available for international patients. Contact Cancer Rounds for a detailed technology overview.
2. What conditions does Dr. Abdulwahab Albabtain specialize in treating?
Dr. Abdulwahab Albabtain specialises in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (including T-ALL and AYA), acute myeloid leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, and refractory/relapsed B-cell malignancies. International patients seek his expertise as a lymphoma and myeloma specialist in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
3. How do I book an appointment with Dr. Abdulwahab Albabtain?
Appointments with Dr. Abdulwahab Albabtain can be booked directly through the Cancer Rounds website or by contacting their international patient department for priority scheduling.
4. Can international patients receive treatment from Dr. Abdulwahab Albabtain?
Yes. Cancer Rounds provides full assistance for international patients seeking treatment from Dr. Abdulwahab Albabtain, including medical visa invitation letters, airport transfers, and local accommodation coordination.
5. What support is available for international patients?
International patients benefit from a dedicated concierge service provided by Cancer Rounds, including language interpretation, financial counselling, and pre-travel virtual consultations to review medical records before arrival.
6. Does Dr. Abdulwahab Albabtain offer second opinions for Lymphoma / Myeloma cases?
Yes. Second opinion consultations for Lymphoma / Myeloma can be arranged via Cancer Rounds for patients who wish to review their diagnosis or treatment plan with an expert hematologist and CAR-T specialist in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
