Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The UVA Health System is making strides in cancer treatment with CAR T-cell therapy, a cutting-edge form of immunotherapy that uses a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. Amanda Lulu, a postdoctoral research associate at UVA, explained the process in a recent interview, saying, “We isolate their own T-cells, which are those immune cells that are so great at killing cancer cells…we engineer them so that they’re able to recognize that cancer.” This innovative treatment is already available at UVA for both pediatric and adult patients with blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.

While CAR T-cell therapy has been highly effective for blood cancers, researchers at UVA are now working to expand its use to solid tumors, such as melanoma and breast cancer. “Some of your tumor cells are really super survivors,” Lulu noted, explaining that the challenge lies in modifying CAR T-cells to overcome the tough environment of solid tumors. The team is focused on understanding these challenges to make the therapy more widely applicable.

Beyond its potential for curing cancer, CAR T-cell therapy is also changing the way cancer is managed. “It’s becoming more of a chronic illness, something that we can live better, longer lives with, with better quality of life,” Lulu emphasized. The UVA Health System continues to advance this research, bringing new hope to patients battling cancer.

Listen here for the full conversation: