8 SEPTEMBER 2024CELLULAR THERAPY: THE NEXT CROSSROAD IN CANCER CAREBy Mike Koroscik, Vice President, Allina Health Cancer Institutellina Health Cancer Institute, with more than ten locations in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, has comprehensive cancer center status and is considering the many technology factors to be able to provide cutting edge cellular therapy in its future design.Cellular therapy has been a mainstay for the treatment of blood cancers for the past 50 years with autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplant. A new category of cellular immunotherapy (e.g., CAR-T therapy) is rapidly shifting the care paradigm by harnessing the immune system to fight cancer through extraction, re-engineering, and reinfusion of a patient's T-cells. The five, current, FDA-approved CAR-T products on the market have demonstrated tremendous impact on survival, and in some cases have proved curative. Dozens more CAR-T agents are in advanced stages of clinical trials, as are a host of other immune effector class agents. As these powerful new therapies come to market, cancer programs, such as Allina Health Cancer Institute (AHCI), are racing to develop the infrastructure and competencies to safely deliver next-generation cancer care.Allina Health has embarked on a strategic growth initiative for AHCI, guided by a clear and compelling vision to build an integrated and innovative model of cancer care. With that, hematology and immunology intersect in treating diseases such as lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma which has historically been a component of a Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program. However, an extension of BMT is also providing CAR-T therapy. In fact, all certified CAR-T programs also have stem cell transplant programs, driven by the complexity of the treatment and the shared/complementary assets between CAR-T and stem cell transplant. Many in the industry predict that new hospital Mike KoroscikAIN MY OPINION
< Page 7 | Page 9 >