Cellular therapy works by harnessing the power of the immune system to fight cancer using engineered or altered cells. These cells are either the patient’s own cells or from a cell line or culture. This can involve self-donation of cells (autologous), or cells from a donor – related or unrelated – who is a good match (allogeneic). The engineered cells are infused back into the body to empower the immune system.
Varied forms of this referral-based treatment are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain cancers. More advancements are expected to come as cellular therapy research continues to expand and the FDA approves more therapies.
Did you know?
Avera conducts clinical trials on cell therapies to expand and move with confidence from research to frontline or secondary therapies. View Cancer Research
Accredited Provider of Cellular Therapy
Avera is the only health system in the region to hold accreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapies (FACT). Through FDA-approved therapies along with participation in ongoing cutting-edge research, Avera is expanding as a center for cell therapies to make a difference in quality of life, survival and even remission of disease.
What Is Cellular Therapy
Cellular therapies, including immunotherapy, build on the body’s natural immune response to recognize and remove cancer. This approach helps fight individual cases of cancer in various ways, such as:
- Blocking the immune system’s checkpoints to allow it to respond more strongly.
- Using genetically modified immune cells to selectively target cancer cells so they are more visible to the immune system.
Types of cell therapies include tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-Cell) and natural killer (NK) cells. The immune system essentially educates the body’s T, B and NK cells to destroy cancerous cells.
TILs
TILs are white blood cells that are sent by the body’s immune system to the tumor site to fight the cancer. In this therapy, TILs from the patient’s tumor are harvested. Tumor cells undergo a process to isolate the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in a lab. TILs are multiplied and then reinfused into the patient with an immune stimulant. Clinical trials are underway to better understand how TILs can treat certain other cancers.
CAR T-Cell
Avera was among the first health systems to offer CAR T-cell therapy in the U.S. for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and young adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). With this treatment T-cells are extracted from the patient and then genetically engineered to include proteins called chimeric antigen receptors, which help find and kill cancer cells. The cells are then infused back into the body. Learn More
CAR-NK Cells
Avera is the only cancer center in the Midwest with clinical trials on the chimeric antigen receptor natural killer cell approach. NK cells travel throughout your body, regularly scouting for and eliminating abnormal cells. They respond to threats quickly to protect you from infection and diseases. When this type of white blood cell is assisted by the CAR molecule, NK cells can better target cancer cells.
