Medical oncology treatment advances

Hematologist and oncologist Sarah Holstein, MD, PhD, is leading a nationwide study to test the effectiveness of a new placenta derived natural killer (NK) cell therapy. The therapy is used in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing autologous stem cell transplant in which the patient's own stem cells are collected and then given back at the time of transplant.

"The study is especially significant because, unlike other types of cellular therapies that rely on isolating a patient's own cells and then requiring additional manufacturing or processing, this new form of NK cell therapy can be readily administered without any delays," says Dr. Holstein.

It is also a huge benefit to these patients because oftentimes, as a result of the disease and/or chemotherapy, a patient's own NK cells are not active or have been depleted, she adds.

The current phase 2 randomized study will evaluate whether administration of these NK cells following stem cell transplant leads to improved outcomes compared to stem cell transplant and a placebo.

"The addition of a potent cellular therapy to the backbone of stem cell transplant has the potential to prolong survival," says Dr. Holstein.