UAB O’Neal Cancer Center Surpasses 500 CAR T Patients

The UAB O’Neal Cancer Center recently reached a major milestone as more than 500 patients now are being treated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy, a groundbreaking option for individuals with certain blood cancers who otherwise have limited alternatives. This achievement underscores the center’s leadership in advancing innovative treatments and in broadening access to lifesaving care for patients across Alabama and beyond.

CAR T therapy is a form of immunotherapy that harnesses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. In this process, a patient’s T cells – a type of white blood cell – are collected and genetically modified in a laboratory to recognize and attack cancer cells. Once re-infused into the patient, these engineered cells seek out and destroy cancer with remarkable precision. CAR T has shown particular promise in treating cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma, especially in patients whose disease has not responded to traditional treatments.

“When we celebrate surpassing 500 CAR T patients, this is more than just a number. This represents not only the lives of our patients but also their families and friends. All these people benefit from the excellent care provided to the patients who have entrusted everyone on our team with their care,” says Susan Bal, M.D., an associate professor, in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine and associate scientist at the O’Neal Cancer Center.

As the O’Neal Cancer Center continues to expand its cellular therapy program, this milestone serves as both a celebration of progress and a reminder of the ongoing commitment to delivering innovative, patient-centered cancer care.