Another option for cutting-edge cancer treatment

Providing his oncology patients with CAR T-cell therapy is exactly what Joel Michalski, M.D., Ph.D., envisioned for his medical career. 

“Cell-based therapy is probably the most advanced (cancer) treatment available,” he said. “As we continue to expand our knowledge of how cancer works, we’re equally expanding our arsenal to find effective techniques to battle it.” 

According to the American Cancer Society, Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) Cell Therapy is a way to get immune cells called T cells (a type of white blood cell) to fight cancer by changing them in the lab so they can find and destroy cancer cells.

After two years of research, preparing, and developing protocols and policies, Methodist’s oncology team, including service leader Lisa Schraufnagel, treated its first patient using CAR T-cell therapy. Schraufnagel said the Methodist planning team spent thousands of hours collectively – not counting the time spent by the Nebraska Cancer Specialists team – preparing to launch this program. 

“This just underscores the complexity of providing CAR T-cell therapy," Schraufnagel said. "Methodist views this as an opportunity do what’s best for cancer patients.”

Physicians Bulletin, A Publication of the Metro Omaha Medical Society: Another option for cutting-edge cancer treatment