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antigen in the patient's cancer cells, killing the cancer. A c c o r d i n g t o D r. S h a u g h n e s s y, Methodist Hospital currently has two clinica l tria ls ava i lable for relapsed lymphoma and relapsed refractory lym- phoma, as well as two additional trials that are anticipated to begin within the next six months. "We're seeing patients respond, go into remission and even stay in remission for several years," he says. "We think that in the next few years, there are going to be a lot of advancements in CAR-T cell therapy. This is probably the biggest area of research in which I'm involved, and it's a very exciting advancement for our patients. To have it here locally is a great advantage for the community." ADVANCING THE STANDARD OF CARE Dr. Shaughnessy has also spent several years researching how to improve stem cell transplants for patients with cancer. In particular, his research has focused on assisting stem cells to enter the blood- stream to minimize the need for bone marrow harvest. Dr. Shaughnessy points to a number of remarkable advancements since his research began. One medication, plerixafor, is now FDA-approved and available to patients. The medication mobilizes stem cells in the bloodstream for col lec t ion a nd event ua l aut olo - gous transfer. D r. Sh au g h ne s s y 's re sea rch a l so focuses on minimizing the number of cases of graft-versus-host disease in allo- geneic stem cell transplant patients. As the patient's immune system has already been weakened through previous cancer treatment, immune system cells come a lmost exclusively from the new stem cells. The new cells regard the patient's body as foreign, which can lead to poten- tially life-threatening complications. Graft-versus-host disease is a com- mon side effect of a llogeneic stem cell transplant. Patients who receive dona- tions from a relative have a risk as high as 45% for developing graft-versus-host disease. If the donor and the patient are not related, the risk can be as high as 80%. " We have tria ls using new drugs to treat graft-versus-host disease, and we are seeing good results," Dr. Shaughnessy says. "We want to find ways to improve outcomes, find better ways of treating com- plications and help patients live longer." PROGRESS IN PEDIATRIC AND YOUNG ADULT ONCOLOGY A n o t h e r g r o u n d b r e a k i n g c l i n i c a l tria l for pediatric cancer patients, as described by Michael J. Eckrich, MD, MPH, Medical Director for the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program Correcting Misconceptions About Clinical Trials IT IS UNDER STA NDA BLE that patients have trepidations about participating in clinical trials. However, clinical trials are carefully researched and closely monitored, and research- ers go to great lengths to maximize patient safety. "These are drugs that have been well-tested in labs on prior patients and in earlier studies," says Paul Shaughnessy, MD, Program Medical Director of the Texas Transplant Institute's Adult and Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Methodist Hospital. "For the clinical studies we have open, we have a lot of experience with these agents." Some patients also express concern about receiving a placebo but no actual treatment. Dr. Shaughnessy assures them this is not the case. Patients enrolled in a clinical trial who are not receiving the new treatment being studied will receive either standard therapy in addition to placebo or standard therapy alone. "These are very advanced medicines and very advanced studies," Dr. Shaughnessy says. "The only way we know if they will be effective is if we test them against the standard of care. If a patient is enrolled in a study which includes a placebo, they will still receive care." Prestigious Accreditations Methodist Hospital, which is accredited by both the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer (COC) and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), was the first in the nation to receive accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy, the standard-setting organization for cell therapy and bone marrow transplant. Methodist Children's Hospital is also a Children's Oncology Group site, allowing the facility to participate in pediatric oncology studies and provide investigative therapies to pediatric cancer patients. M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S S A N A N T O N I O ■ 2 019 0 7