The Hematology Research Group at HCU Lozano Blesa performs the first apheresis for CART therapy in Aragon

The IIS Aragón research group has been accredited for this process, the first part of these innovative therapies. CART therapy is increasingly being established as a treatment for hematological tumors, mainly lymphomas.

Professionals from the Hematology and Hemotherapy Service of the Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital in Zaragoza have carried out the first apheresis for CART therapy in the Autonomous Community. Lymphocyte apheresis is the first of the two phases with which this innovative therapy is applied, increasingly established for treat hematological tumors, mainly lymphomas.

«Until now, patients who were candidates to receive this therapy in Aragon had to travel outside the Community to undergo this procedure, with the emotional, social and even economic cost that this entailed»

Mayte Olave. Head of the Clinic's Hematology and Hemotherapy Service

Apheresis is a process by which the lymphocytes from a patient. These lymphocytes are transported to an industrial plant in Holland, where they are modified through a complex genetic engineering procedure, to transform into lymphocytes directed against that patient's specific tumor.

«This represents joy, satisfaction and hope. It is the result of a long team effort in which all the staff of this service has participated, which began years ago by the previous head, Dr. Luis Palomera, and which would not have been possible without the support and trust that from the beginning. "We had the beginning from the Ministry of Health and the management"

Mayte Olave. Head of the Clinic's Hematology and Hemotherapy Service

The Lozano Blesa Hematology Service obtained the last July 10, accreditation by the Kite-Europa company as an Aferizador Center for CART therapy. And, a month later, he performed the first apheresis on a patient from Sector Zaragoza I.

This accreditation is a fundamental step on the path that the University Clinical Hospital is taking to become a reference center in CART therapies. A recognition granted by the Ministry of Health - for which strict requirements must be met - and which will allow, in the future, patients to receive complete treatment in Aragon.

And, as mentioned above, apheresis is the first of the two phases of CART therapy. In the second, the patient receives lymphodepletive chemotherapy and then his transformed lymphocytes are infused, which will be responsible for his own immune system ending the lymphoma.

"Currently this part of the treatment cannot yet be carried out in Aragon, but we have been working for more than two years, in collaboration with other Hospital services (Immunology, Pharmacy, Intensive Medicine and Neurology, among others) so that in a "In the near future, the complete treatment can be carried out with full guarantees here, and that the Aragonese will not have to travel outside for it."

Mayte Olave. Head of the Clinic's Hematology and Hemotherapy Service

This innovative treatment is part of the so-called cellular therapies. Currently, between 15 and 20 patients in Aragon are candidates each year to receive these therapies, although they have more and more indications and at earlier stages of the disease, so the number of candidate patients is increasing substantially and It is expected to continue doing so in the coming years.

Source: Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital

Image: Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital