August 24, 2021

The TriHealth Cancer Institute (TCI), with the support of bi3, Bethesda Inc.’s grants initiative to transform health, is pleased to announce that a Cellular therapy program is going to open at Good Samaritan Hospital to better serve and care for cancer patients. As the hematologic malignancy program has continued to grow, it has become increasingly important to be able to effectively care for this patient population. The program will focus on outpatient cellular therapy services including autologous bone marrow transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor T- Cell Therapy (CAR-T) and will also provide inpatient services. The goal is to initiate the first transplant by the end of this year (December 2021).

What is cellular therapy?

• Cellular therapies are designed to improve the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. 
• These therapies can include Autologous bone marrow transplant (utilizing the patient’s own stem cells) and new therapies such as Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells or CAR-T Cell therapy. 
• An Autologous bone marrow transplant takes the patient’s own healthy blood-forming cells and puts them into the patient’s bloodstream, where they begin to grow and make healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Patients receive high doses of chemotherapy to prepare their body for the transplant. Then on transplant day, the patient receives the donated cells in a process similar to receiving blood or medicine through an intravenous (IV) catheter. 
• Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy or CAR-T cell therapy collects the patient’s T Cells, which are their immune fighting cells. The T Cells are then genetically modified and engineered to attack the patient’s cancer cells once they are re-infused into the patient. 

The TriHealth Cancer Institute is the premier provider of cancer care in Cincinnati, caring for more cancer patients than any other system in the region. The vision of the TriHealth Cancer Institute (TCI) includes the aim to “deliver multi-disciplinary, collaborative care with cutting edge treatments and technologies.” The cellular therapy program will allow Trihealth to be on the cutting edge of future therapies as oncology care evolves.

This is a very exciting venture for TriHealth & one that will only improve the cancer survivor rates. I am so very proud to be a Team Member of TriHealth where our Providers strive to be the very best. This is amazing technology offering our Community & beyond the most up to date methods of treatment for cancer. Thank you for everything you do at the Cancer Institute. I am very appreciative & grateful.
Posted by: Deborah Miller2 on August 26, 2021
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This is great news.
Posted by: Michele Benson on August 25, 2021
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This is great news and a way to extend our healing ministry and improve the health status of our community!
Posted by: Austin Schafer on August 25, 2021
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