Grateful Patient’s Gift Supports Sylvester’s Quest to Establish Top Myeloma Program
Mexico City’s Jacobo Shemaria could go anywhere in the world for multiple myeloma care, but he chose Sylvester because of its renowned myeloma institute.
When Jacobo Shemaria’s multiple myeloma, the second most common blood cancer in adults, recurred, he knew only a world-class cancer center could provide the life-saving treatment he desperately needed.
The real estate developer from Mexico City was willing to go anywhere but chose Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System. Its renowned Sylvester Myeloma Institute is led by C. Ola Landgren, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the Division of Myeloma at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and an internationally recognized expert in myeloma research and treatment.
“Mr. Shemaria transferred his care here because we could offer excellent clinical care and access to all the newest treatments, such as CAR T-cell therapy,” said Dr. Landgren, director of the Sylvester Myeloma Institute, Paul J. DiMare Endowed Chair in Immunotherapy and co-leader of Sylvester’s Translational and Clinical Oncology program.
A Leader in CAR T-cell Therapy
It is not surprising that Sylvester is a leader in CAR T-cell therapy, as it was part of several of the clinical trials that led to FDA approvals. An NCI-designated Cancer Center, Sylvester is the first in South Florida certified to use this novel therapy and has more experience than any other medical center in the region.
A type of immunotherapy, autologous CAR T-cell therapy involves harvesting circulating T cells from the patient’s blood, which are sent to an FDA-approved lab for transduction so they express “chimeric antigen receptors” (CAR).
Once the patient’s T-cells express these receptors on their surface and are reinfused into the patient, they are able to identify and attack specific proteins that are present on the surface of the cancer cells. This is a sophisticated way to turn the patient’s own immune cells into anti-cancer drugs.
Collaborative Cancer Care
Amer Beitinjaneh, M.D., M.P.H., who leads Sylveser’s Transplant, Cellular and Viral Therapy Site Disease Group, oversaw Shemaria’s infusions. Dr. Beitinjaneh is part of the Miller School’s Division of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, led by Damian Green, M.D., division chief and assistant director of translational research, who works closely with Dr. Landgren to develop novel immune-based therapies.
The Department of Orthopaedics was also involved with Shemaria’s care. After the immunotherapy eradicated the cancer cells, his bones were left weakened from the disease and he experienced excruciating pain from his rib cage and back. Joseph Gjolaj, M.D., chief of orthopaedic spine surgery and clinical professor of orthopaedics at the Miller School, performed specialized surgery to alleviate the pain and strengthen the skeletal structure of Shemaria’s spine.
Multiple myeloma has no cure, but patients are living longer thanks to improvements in research. Shemaria currently shows minimal residual disease negativity, meaning there is no detectable multiple myeloma in his body — a reflection of the successful CAR T-cell therapy. He still sees Dr. Landgren through telehealth appointments and in-office visits to monitor his health.
Funding Future Research
To express his sincere gratitude for the exceptional care he has received, Shemaria made a generous gift to support myeloma research at Sylvester.
“I was surprised to get such good attention while I got the CAR T-cell therapy,” said Shemaria. “All the nurses and doctors were very professional and I’m very satisfied with my treatment. Dr. Landgren is very caring.”
The gift will help support the important laboratory-based myeloma research Dr. Landgren and his colleagues are doing.
“We are forever very thankful and appreciative for donations. Without financial support, it is impossible for a program to do all the development that is being done,” said Dr. Landgren. “When I joined Sylvester almost four years ago, I vowed to establish one of the top three myeloma programs in the United States within five years of our inception, and we are right on track to accomplish that.”
Tags: cancer research, Dr. C. Ola Landgren, multiple myeloma, philanthropy, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center