Closer to a Cure Inspires & Educates About Treatment Advances of Blood Cancers

On Tuesday, April 10, top researchers and clinicians from UCLA joined The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to share updates on recent innovations in treating blood cancers, including CAR T immunotherapy.

The Panel was moderated by Michael Yaffe, PhD, Vice President of Research, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Panelists from UCLA Health included:

• Gary Schiller, MD - Professor of Medicine, Director of UCLA Bone Marrow / Stem Cell Transplant Program
• John Timmerman, MD - Professor of Medicine
• Josh Sasine, MD - Clinical Instructor, Director of UCLA CAR T-Cell Program
• Sarah Larson, MD - Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of UCLA Multiple Myeloma Program
• Ted Moore, MD - Professor of Pediatrics, Division Chief / Program Director of UCLA Pediatric Blood & Bone Marrow Transplant Program, UCLA Health

Dr. Timmerman opened the session by sharing a video featuring Josh Feldman (see below), who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2017. The video, which chronicles Josh’s treatment with CAR T immunotherapy, was followed by a brief introduction to engineered cell therapy. He provided an overview of CAR T-Cell Therapy, and explained that the FDA approved two types of CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell immunotherapy in 2017. CAR T is a treatment in which a patient's T-cells, the soldiers of the immune system, are genetically reprogrammed to find and kill cancer cells. Dr. Timmerman noted that LLS has been supporting research into immunotherapy for the past 20 years. Dr. Timmerman shared images and anecdotes about multiple patients who received this therapy, including one patient with follicular lymphoma which is an incurable disease, yet the patient has been in complete remission for 8 years since CAR T-Cell Therapy.  He noted that many patients who had failure with multiple other treatment options achieved complete remission with CAR T.

Dr. Timmerman also discussed the side effects of CAR T, which include Cytokine Release Syndrome (severe in 25% of patients) and Neurological Toxicity (severe in 25% of patients), and indicated that side effects can be managed with intensive care in many cases.

Dr. Michael Teitell, a renowned molecular immunologist and biochemist and the new director of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, welcomed the guests and shared that LLS gave him one of his first research grants when he was starting his career.

The panelists touched on a variety of topics related to both current and future treatments for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. There was robust discussion around the question of whether CAR T would replace chemotherapy for certain blood cancers, and how clinicians are already using precision medicine to guide treatment for individual patients. The panelists shared thoughts on the cost of current immunotherapy treatments and opined that costs will reduce over time. There was discussion about quality of life and reducing both short-term and long-term side effects of blood cancer treatments, particularly for children. there was robust conversation about innovations in stem cell transplants.

The conversation closed on a hopeful note, with each panelist sharing their excitement about the what the future holds for their patients. There was consensus that the future will bring more effective treatments, more cures, less toxic treatments, and hopefully, more insights about how to prevent blood cancers from happening.

ABOUT THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding research, finding cures and ensuring access to treatments for blood cancer patients. Since 1949, The LLS has been on the forefront of blood cancer advances such as chemotherapies and stem cell transplantation leading the way to the targeted therapies and immunotherapies that are saving thousands of lives today. LLS is changing the landscape of cancer with more than 300 active research projects that explore different avenues of new and adventurous research; ones with promise and ones that will save lives not someday, but today. Learn more at www.lls.org.

ABOUT UCLA HEALTH

UCLA Health is among the most comprehensive and advanced health care systems in the world. Together, UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA strive every day to be a model that redefines the standard of excellence in health care. It is our integrated mission to provide state-of-the-art patient care, to train top medical professionals and to support pioneering research and discovery.

Our physicians are world leaders in the diagnosis and treatment of complex illnesses, and our hospitals are consistently ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. UCLA Health is at the cutting edge of biomedical research, and our doctors and scientists are pioneering work across an astounding range of disciplines, from organ transplantation and cardiac surgery to neurosurgery and cancer treatment, and bringing the latest discoveries to virtually every field of medicine.

CONNECT WITH THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) offers a highly personalized FREE concierge service for patients and families. Our information specialists are trained health care professionals that can help individuals navigate disease information, clinical trials, patient support (both financially & emotionally) and anything else that is needed. The direct line is (800) 955-4572, or you can contact them online at http://www.lls.org/support/information-specialists.

Are you interested in getting involved with LLS in Los Angeles? Please contact Shannon Sullivan at 310-846-4738 or via email at shannon.sullivan@lls.org.