For patients with cancers of the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system, (also known as leukemias, lymphomas, and myelomas), that are not responding to treatment, a new type of immunotherapy may be the key. Bispecific T-Cell Engager Therapy, commonly termed BiTE therapy, is a new treatment that assists the body in destroying cancer cells.
Oncology specialist Peter Wagner, MD, managed the first treatment of BiTE therapy at Logan Health in August and explained that this treatment greatly assists the T-cells of the body, which attack diseased cells and help prevent infection. “With BiTE therapy, the bispecific antibodies find and bind to the T-cell and the cancer cell, carrying and activating the T-cell to destroy the cancer cell,” he said.
Dr. Wagner helped bring this new cancer treatment to Logan Health, along with Medical Oncologist and Hematologist Ryan Roop, MD, and Nursing Director in Oncology Clinical Development Leah Scaramuzzo, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, AOCN. In providing this new treatment, their goal was to treat patients in their own community and prevent the need to travel to a large cancer center far from home. Making these treatments accessible to patients in their own state can prevent the strain and stress of leaving their home, loved ones, and support system to travel for care.
In these ways and more, BiTE therapy can help patients in search of other treatment options and give them new hope. For Logan Health’s cancer teams, offering this service is another step in advancing care, providing the very best cancer treatment in Montana, and keeping patients close to home.
To learn more about the Logan Health Cancer Program, please visit logan.org/cancer.