Leukemia Research Foundation News

Making a difference while fighting her own leukemia battle

It was supposed to be just a routine medical procedure. But when four-year-old Sarah was getting her ear tubes removed, the doctor noticed something more: there were abnormalities signifying a more serious condition. Soon after, Sarah was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

She received treatment for this cancer from her dedicated medical team at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and the leukemia went into remission. It was thought that the leukemia was gone for good.

The relapse

However, in 2017, Sarah, now in her early 20s, experienced a relapse.

“The news was a complete shock,” she said. “I was so young when I had this before. I really thought this was behind me.”

This time, Sarah had to undergo a more intense relapse treatment protocol, as her medical team was unsure whether it was the original leukemia returning or a new variant. She moved back home to be close to her loving and supportive family in the Chicago area and started her new treatment plan.

The CAR T-cell therapy clinical trial: providing hope

In 2022 though, five years after the initial relapse treatment, Sarah suffered a second relapse.

“It was then when I learned of a relatively new treatment called CAR T-cell therapy that I wanted to explore,” said Sarah. “I heard that it might further reduce the chance of the leukemia returning.”

To participate in the CAR T-cell therapy clinical trial, which was offered by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Sarah had to apply for it.

“Luckily I qualified just prior to my 30th birthday,” she said, “because you had to be under 30 to participate.”

CAR T-cell therapy involves using the body’s immune cells to kill off the cancer cells. This cancer treatment was approved by the FDA in 2017 for patients who had relapsed with B-ALL. T cells, white blood cells that are made to kill disease cells, are taken from the patient’s blood and then genetically modified to produce a protein.

“I always compared it to a boot camp for T cells,” said Sarah.

This particular research had been done using non-human models, but now, for the clinical trial, Sarah received the “humanized” version of the CAR T-cell therapy treatment. This version used specific chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) that looked as if they had been derived from an actual human cell line.

“The goal of using the humanized cells is so the body won’t reject them, and you can have long-term success, versus trying to get into remission for a stem cell transplant,” said Sarah.

Before she could receive the modified T cells, however, Sarah had to undergo several chemotherapy sessions.

Once she was able, Sarah had the T cells put back into her body via an infusion. Those cells then got to work, seeking out the cancerous B cells, attaching to them, and destroying the cancer cells.

Following treatment, Sarah stayed in Philadelphia for two months so that the CHOP medical team could monitor her condition. At two months, she was able to go back home.

Today, Sarah is in remission and there are currently no B cells present within her body. She continues to receive intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions monthly to protect her immune system, and her local medical team at Lurie Children’s and the CHOP medical team work together to keep Sarah healthy.

Making a difference in the fight against leukemia

Throughout her battle with leukemia, Sarah has been a fierce advocate for raising awareness and funds for leukemia research. She even launched a fundraising campaign to help support the Leukemia Research Foundation.

“I was drawn to the Leukemia Research Foundation because it’s a local organization and I could be more hands-on with my volunteer efforts,” said Sarah.

In addition, Sarah appreciates all that the Leukemia Research Foundation does to help leukemia patients, their families, and medical professionals who participate in the search for a cure.

“Leukemia Research Foundation is one of the best,” said Sarah. “The organization uses the money very wisely.”

As Sarah continues to be a proponent in the fight against leukemia and shows strength and determination in her own battle with the disease, she is thankful for her medical team in Chicago at Lurie Children’s Hospital (formerly Children’s Memorial Hospital) that has cared for her since she was a child, as well as the team at CHOP where she received the CAR T-cell therapy. 

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