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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Pioneers Cellular Therapy Innovations in Cancer Treatment

NextEdge Admin

21 Oct 2024

2 min 51 sec

Precisionmedicine,Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Cellular therapy, a transformative approach in modern medicine, involves manipulating cells outside the body and reintroducing them to treat or prevent diseases. Since 2018, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) in Taiwan has been at the forefront of this innovation, establishing a Good Tissue Practice (GTP) lab with six cell processing units that meet PICS/GMP cleanliness standards. The hospital actively supports clinical trials in immune cell and regenerative medicine, with its Department of Laboratory Medicine—certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP)—ensuring quality control of the cell production process.

One of CGMH’s pioneering efforts is the use of synthetic cancer cell antigens to train and multiply immune cells, which are then reinfused to target and destroy cancer cells, complementing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Dr. Wei-Chen Lee, a Vice-Superintendent at CGMH, has led advancements in DC-CIK (dendritic cell-cytokine induced killer) immunotherapy for liver cancer since 1998. His research has achieved a disease control rate of 70-80%, preventing tumor recurrence post-treatment.

CAR-T therapy, another breakthrough, genetically modifies T-cells to target specific cancer cells, proving highly effective in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Dr. Shih-Hsiang Chen applied this therapy to two pediatric patients with extramedullary relapse, achieving recovery with only mild side effects. These patients avoided invasive procedures such as orchidectomy, preserving their quality of life.

Professor John Yu further advanced immune cell therapies by developing apexNK technology, a method that enhances the efficacy of NK (natural killer) cells in treating solid tumors. Meanwhile, Director Shuen-Iu Hung’s research on tumor neoantigen vaccines has completed Phase I trials, paving the way for future therapies targeting resistant and metastatic cancers.

These innovations at CGMH exemplify the promise of cellular therapies in improving outcomes, broadening treatment options, and enhancing patients' quality of life.