A groundbreaking treatment shown to be curative in over 50% of patients with certain types of blood cancers is now available in the Central Valley thanks to specialists at Community Cancer Institute.
Dr. Haifaa Abdulhaq, Director of Cellular Therapy at Community Cancer Institute and Hematology at UCSF Fresno, and her team are the first to successfully deliver an immunotherapy called CAR-T cell therapy locally. Before, patients in the Valley had to travel to the Bay Area or southern California to receive the treatment.
Why it matters: CAR-T cell therapy, which was approved by the FDA in 2017, treats patients with advanced blood cancers such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Data from The National Cancer Institute shows that in CAR-T cell clinical trials involving those with large cell lymphoma, more than 30% had no signs of the disease after five years.
“CAR-T can cure about 50% of patients who otherwise do not have any other good options,” said Dr. Abdulhaq.
How it works: T-cells are white blood cells that help the body fight infection and disease. CAR T-cell therapy extracts a patient’s T-cells, which are then genetically engineered to produce special cancer-fighting proteins. Once they’re infused back into the patient, these T-cells target and kill cancerous cells.
The big picture: CAR-T cell therapy involves a lot of hardship and isolation — not just for the patient but for their caregivers, too. Having the therapy available locally makes it more accessible to those who are unable to put their lives on hold during treatment.
“Once you receive your infusion, you have to stay within two hours of your infusion center for 14 days with a caregiver that monitors you for 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Erin Merrin, Cellular Therapy Program and Quality Manager. “So, it’s not just you staying away from your home for days at a time, it’s you and a loved one.”
Who it impacts: Two years ago, Christine Quintero was diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma, a blood cancer that affects the body’s immune system. The diagnosis came with limited treatment options.
“I just started thinking all these things like, ‘I’m not going to make it. I’m going to, you know ... die,’” said Quintero.
Her oncology team at Community Cancer Institute suggested CAR-T cell therapy — the first patient in the Central Valley to receive the treatment. Two years later, Quintero’s post-op scans show no signs of cancer in her body.
“We’re hoping this is going to be the beginning of so many other patients that we can help,” said Dr. Abdulhaq. “Because this is a revolutionary treatment. It is potentially curative for patients who otherwise do not have a cure.”
