10 Years of CAR T-cell Therapy
First child to receive revolutionary CAR T therapy celebrates 10 years cancer free
Emily Whitehead, now 17, received life-saving treatment at CHOP's No. 1 ranked pediatric oncology program, transforming the field of cancer immunotherapy
In 2012, Tom and Kari Whitehead came to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) looking for a miracle for their 6-year-old daughter, Emily, who was battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The standard treatment that works for the vast majority of children with ALL — the most common form of childhood cancer — did not work for Emily. She relapsed twice, and her disease was so out of control that she was ineligible for a bone marrow transplant to treat it.
How cancer immunotherapy works
This is a kid-friendly explanation of how cancer immunotherapy (T-cell therapy) works. This animation explains, in simple terms, how scientists harness the power of the immune system to kill cancer cells.