Cellular Therapy Emerges as a Front-Runner in
Medical Innovation
TAOYUAN, Oct. 20,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellular therapy, a
revolutionary approach where cells are manipulated outside the body
and then reintroduced to treat or prevent diseases, has been
recognized in recent years as a highly promising treatment in the
medical field. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan has been at the forefront of this
innovation since 2018, when it established a Good Tissue Practice
(GTP) laboratory with six cell processing labs adhering to
international PICS/GMP cleanliness standards. The hospital actively
supports clinical trials for various immune cells and regenerative
medicine, with its Department of Laboratory Medicine certified by
the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and responsible for
issuing quality control reports for cell production processes.
Autologous Dendritic Cell-Cytokine Induced Killer Cell
Immunotherapy (DC-CIK)
Dr. Wei-Chen Lee,
Vice-Superintendent at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, a
leading institution in liver transplantation in Taiwan, has been researching autologous
dendritic cells (DC) for liver cancer treatment since 1998. His
therapy has achieved remarkable results, with no tumor growth
post-treatment and a disease control rate of 70-80%. His team is
now advancing research on cancer vaccines, aiming to initiate
treatment immediately post-surgery to prevent cancer
recurrence.
Professor John Yu from the
Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research (ISCTCR)
has developed a novel three-stage "apexNK" expansion technology for
natural killer (NK) cells. Combined with a high-efficiency viral
transduction method, this technology produces new CAR-NK cells,
overcoming the limitations of traditional CAR therapies in treating
solid tumors. Director Shuen-Iu Hung from the Cancer Vaccine and
Immune Cell Therapy Core Laboratory has completed Phase I clinical
trials targeting tumor neoantigens for solid cancer treatment,
paving the way for future applications in metastatic and
multidrug-resistant tumors.
CAR-T Cell Therapy: A Living Drug Revolutionizing Cancer
Treatment
CAR-T cell therapy, or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy,
represents a groundbreaking immunotherapy that combines gene
therapy and cellular therapy. Dubbed the "living drug," the
treatment modifies the patient's immune T-cells genetically,
enabling them to precisely target and eliminate specific cancer
cells. These engineered and expanded T-cells are then reintroduced
into the patient's body. The therapy has demonstrated remarkable
success in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and diffuse
large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), earning accelerated approval from
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Huahua, a 13-year-old, and Baobao, an 8-year-old, both boys,
serve as examples. Both were diagnosed with ALL and later developed
extramedullary relapse, with Huahua experiencing bilateral
testicular enlargement and Baobao showing enlargement of the right
testicle, accompanied by an increase in minimal residual disease
(MRD).
Faced with these challenging cases, Dr. Shih-Hsiang Chen, Deputy Director of the
hospital's Pediatric Department, noted the limited effectiveness of
traditional hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for
extramedullary relapse. Local treatments such as orchidectomy or
radiotherapy could also significantly impact the reproductive
function of pediatric patients. After thorough discussions with the
patients' families, the decision was made to proceed with CAR-T
cell therapy. Following treatment, both patients experienced only
mild fever and fatigue and were discharged after approximately two
weeks. They continue to receive outpatient follow-up care.
Dr. Cheng-Hsun Chiu, also a
Vice-Superintendent at the hospital, said that advancements in
cancer treatment have transformed the landscape, evolving from
traditional radiotherapy and chemotherapy to targeted therapy, bone
marrow transplantation, and now, pioneering cellular therapies like
DC-CIK and CAR-T. Looking ahead, the evolution of immune cell
therapy promises to usher in more technological breakthroughs,
offering patients a broader array of treatment choices and
significantly enhancing both treatment efficacy and quality of
life.
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SOURCE Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou