CAR T Cell Therapy is Now Available for Treatment of Certain Types of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
The Northside Blood and Marrow Transplant Program is an authorized treatment center to administer Yescarta ®, axicabtagene ciloleucel, a CD 19 directed genetically modified autologous T cell therapy (also known as CAR T). Yescarta ® is for adult patients who have certain types of relapsed or refractory large B cell lymphoma after two or more types of treatment. CAR T cell therapy is a promising personalized immunotherapy treatment that uses a patient’s own T cells to eliminate malignant cancer cells. For more information about CAR T cell therapy, please click Immunotherapy Program at Northside Hospital.
New Blood and Marrow Transplant, Leukemia and Immunotherapy Unit Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
On May 1, 2018, The Blood and Marrow Transplant Group of Georgia physicians, program leadership and staff members participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of this new state-of-the-art inpatient unit. The unit is solely for patients undergoing blood and marrow transplant, leukemia, and immunotherapy treatment. To view a video from the ceremony, click here. For more information, please click Facilities.
Updated Allogeneic Transplant Survival Outcome Data Over Performing 2009 - 2017
The NSH BMT Program is the only adult BMT Program in Georgia, to achieve survival outcomes that significantly exceeded the expected survival rate for allogeneic transplants for the last 9 consecutive reporting cycles (2009-2017)1,2. Survival outcome achievements include:
- In the top 20% for volume for allogeneic transplants and largest allogeneic center in Georgia
- 9th consecutive reporting cycle in ‘Over Performing’ category
- 1 of 2 centers nationally who have over-performed for transplants performed over a decade (2003 – 2015)
We believe our commitment to quality has consistently increased patient survival rates and lower treatment-related mortality rates. There were 174 adult and pediatric transplant centers included in the analysis.
Please click Survival and https://bethematch.org/tcdirectory/index/60 for additional information.
1. For the ninth consecutive year (2009-17) NH-BMT achieved survival outcomes that significantly exceeded the expected range as reported in the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research Final 2017 Transplant Center Survival Report, December 11, 2017 and from reported outcome data from Be The Match®
2. There were 174 adult and pediatric transplant centers included in the analysis. This survival information includes only patients who received their first allogeneic transplant between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2015 using unrelated or related donors and who had reported follow-up. Specific transplant center information can be found at bethematch.org
Congratulation to the NSH-BMT Program
Successful BMT CTN Grant Renewal 2017 – 2023
NSH-BMT program achieved BMT CTN Core Center Grant renewal funding for years 2017 - 2023. Past performance, current application, and PI leadership contributed to the grant renewal. NSH-BMT applied as a consortium with University of Miami and Levine Cancer Institute. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) provide BMT CTN research grant funding.
Achieving this award is a validation of the efforts of each person in the program, the support of the administration, and leadership of the BMTGA physicians. For further information, please read Press Release.
Dr. Bashey’ Northside Cancer Institute’s Built to Beat Cancer Radio Announcement
Dr. Asad Bashey, Northside Cancer Institute’s Blood and Marrow/Leukemia clinical research program medical director, recent radio announcement highlighted the program's outstanding survival outcomes, quality of patient care, and diverse medical team to help patients through their cancer journey.
Please click here to listen to Dr. Bashey’s recent radio announcement.
BMT Program at Northside Renews its Status as a Core Clinical Center for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network
Northside Hospital Cancer Institute's Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program is pleased and honored to learn that it is one of twenty BMT Programs and Program Consortia to be selected as a Core Clinical Center for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN).
Click here to read more on this story and others in the lastest BMT Newsletter
Neal Brasfield, Unrelated Allogeneic Transplant Recipient, Meets His Donor at the Blood & Marrow Transplant Reunion
To view additional BMT reunion photos, please go to Survivorship
Exceeding Expectations
Immunotherapy Research Leads to Better Outcomes for Leukemia and BMT Patients
Please read Drs. Asad Bashey and Lawerence Morris’ comments on how immunotherapy research has positively impacted survival outcomes for BMT and leukemia patients.
Advances in Immunotherapy for Cancer: Novel Phase 1 Clinical Research Trial Open for Enrollment
Advances in Immunotherapy for Cancer: Novel Phase 1 Clinical Research Trial Open for Enrollment
Advances in Immunotherapy for Cancer: Novel Phase 1 Clinical Research Trial Open for Enrollment
Updated 2017 Referral Guidelines: Recommended Timing For Transplant Consultation
Disease stage at the time of transplant can have a significant impact on patient survival [1] appropriate planning and early donor identification are critical for optimal outcomes.
The 2017 referral timing guidelines were developed jointly by the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) /Be The Match® and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) and are based on current clinical practice, medical literature, and evidence-based reviews. [1,2]
The guidelines highlight disease categories that include patients at risk for disease progression, who should be referred for consultation for autologous or allogeneic HCT.[3]
If you have questions as to when to refer a patient for initial transplant consult, please call 404-255-1930 and ask to speak to one of our transplant physicians.
- Lee, SJ, Klein J, Haagenson M, et al. High-resolution donor-recipient HLA matching contributes to the success of unrelated donor marrow transplantation. Blood. 2007;110(13): 4576-4583. Access
- Pidala J, Lee SJ, Ahn KW, et al. Nonpermissive HLA-DPB1 mismatch increases mortality after myeloablative unrelated allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Blood. 2014:124(16):2596-2606. Access
- NMDP/Be The Match & ASBMT Recommended Timing for Transplant Consultation, 2017. Download (PDF)
Post- Blood and Marrow Transplant Immunization Schedule- What You Need to Know
After blood and marrow transplant, patients will need to be re-immunized with all childhood vaccinations due to their new immune systems being immature and vulnerable to diseases/infections. It is recommended that post-transplant patients begin their vaccination schedule six months after transplant unless clinically contraindicated. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), recommends the following:
- Inactivated influenza vaccine should be administered beginning at least 6 months after HCT and annually thereafter for the life of the patient.
- Sequential administration of 3 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended, beginning 3-6 months after the transplant, followed by a dose of PPSV.
- A 3-dose regimen of Hib vaccine should be administered beginning 6 months after transplant; at least 1 month should separate the doses.
- MMR vaccine should be administered 24 months after transplant if the HCT recipient is immunocompetent.
- If a decision is made to vaccinate with varicella vaccine, the vaccine should be administered a minimum of 24 months after transplantation if the HCT recipient is presumed to be immunocompetent.
Please click here to view the NSH-BMT post-transplant vaccination schedule recommended for both autologous and allogeneic transplant recipients. For more specific information, see Tomblyn M, Chiller T, Einsele H, et al. Guidelines for Preventing Infectious Complications among Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients: A Global Perspective [1.9MB, 96 pages]. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 15:1143-1238;2009 or visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines.
Platelet Donation Video - Atlanta Blood Services
Hesitant about donating platelets? Our wonderful platelet hero Dave takes the guesswork out of donating! The process is very similar to donating whole blood, and with your donation you are giving the gift of life to an active blood cancer or blood disorder patient right here in Atlanta!
Call 404-459-8744 and schedule your appointment to save lives today!
