Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is now being used to treat children whose leukemia is no longer responding to conventional therapy. 

UW Health is the only location in Wisconsin currently providing this option, which was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first gene therapy approved in the United States.

The technique involves genetically modifying a patient's immune cells so that they better recognize and attack acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells (a form of blood cancer). 

Peiman Hematti, MD (pictured at right), professor, Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, oversees the cell processing laboratory at UW Health where modified patient cells are stored before being infused. 

A Wisconsin State Journal story about the procedure also quoted Christian Capitini, MD (not pictured), assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics.

Resources:

• "Against the odds: For children with resistant leukemia, immunotherapy offers hope," Wisconsin State Journal, May 21, 2018
• "Immunotherapy: Harnessing Cellular Systems to Fight Diseases," UW School of Medicine and Public Health, January 2, 2017