"We now have access to CAR T therapies for every approved indication, and we offer a quick turnaround for patient referrals. This means we are getting patients in earlier for treatment."
- Fabio Petrocca, MD, director of the Cellular Therapy Program
We’re Overcoming Barriers to Cancer Care
BMC’s boutique program offers the same groundbreaking CAR T-cell therapies as larger institutions, but with a more personalized experience. Our program has access to all FDA-approved indications for CAR T-cell therapy — and a nimble decision-making process provides patients earlier access to treatment, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety.
Meet Fabio Petrocca, MD
Fabio Petrocca, MD, director of the Cellular Therapy Program, is an oncologist with more than 15 years of experience in the field. Having witnessed the journeys of hundreds of patients treated with CAR T-cell therapies, Petrocca understands the importance of providing rapid and equitable access to this life-saving treatment for all patients who may benefit from it. “Having access to these treatments is another very important step forward, not just for BMC, but also for the patients we serve,” he says.
Petrocca is a physician-scientist focused on treating benign and malignant hematologic conditions, including lymphomas, leukemias, and multiple myeloma. His research focuses on the development of immune effector cell therapies for cancer and enabling equitable patient access to innovative and powerful cancer cell therapies such as CAR T.
Dr. Petrocca’s recent research includes:
- Munshi NC et al. (2021). Idecabtagene Vicleucel in Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma. New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 25; 384(8):705-716.
- Raje N et al. (2019). Anti-BCMA CAR T-Cell Therapy bb2121 in Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma. New England Journal of Medicine, May 2; 380(18):1726-1737.
- Samur MK et al. (2021). Biallelic loss of BCMA as a resistance mechanism to CAR T cell therapy in a patient with multiple myeloma. Nature Communications, Feb. 8; 12(1):868.
Arminta's Story
Arminta Graham is quick to tell everyone, “CAR T therapy is the best thing that ever happened to me.” But when she was first offered the treatment in December 2022, she wasn’t sure she wanted it. “I had never heard of CAR T and was afraid to try something new,” she says. A few weeks later, she changed her mind and became the first patient at BMC to receive this life-saving therapy.
Arminta was declared cancer free the first week of April and rang the bell April 10.
“Now I’m feeling great and can do everything I used to, like babysitting my six grandkids and great-grandson. I still can’t believe how blessed I am — I tell everyone, CAR T changed my life.” – Arminta Graham, BMC’s first CAR-T patient
Our CAR T-cell Team
Led by Fabio Petrocca, MD, our multidisciplinary team brings together a wide range of specialists including hematology, critical care, neurology, cardiology, blood bank, laboratory medicine, social work, pharmacy, and emergency medicine.
Petrocca and his team began administering CAR T-cell therapy to patients at BMC in early 2023, with excellent results.
Who is eligible for CAR T-cell therapy at BMC?
BMC is now offering personalized CAR T-cell therapies to patients with blood cancers — including lymphomas, some leukemias, and multiple myeloma — that have not responded to other types of treatment.
Learn more about BMC's CAR T-cell Therapy Program. To refer a patient, please contact car-t@bmc.org.