JOURNAL OF BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION AND CELLULAR THERAPY

Commentary article on AI and EI

Hans-Jochem Kolb — 2024-07-24

HEMATOPOIETIC CELL TRANSPLANTATION (HCT) FOR ALL: A report from the 2024 Congress of the Brazilian Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Society (SBTMO)

Fernando Barroso Duarte — 2024-09-25

This article analyzes current data, and the main challenges faced in Hematopoietic cell Transplantation (HCT) in Brazil, as presented at the SBTMO 2024 meeting, with the aim of guiding future actions. Topics discussed included the waiting list for HCT transplants, access to beds for adults and pediatric patients, and the need for a more efficient distribution of resources across the country. Among the identified needs were the creation of a program to expand access to transplants through the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), the importance of health registries for data-driven decisions, and the development of the "Mais Saúde Amazônia" project to expand transplant centers in the Amazon region. Additionally, the provision of financial incentives for transplant centers, the implementation of mentorship programs to increase access to HCT, and the formation of a cooperative network between SBTMO (Brazilian Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy), ABHH (Brazilian Association of Hematology, Hemotherapy, and Cellular Therapy), ANVISA (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency), ABRALE (Brazilian Association of Lymphoma and Leukemia), and INCA (Brazilian National Cancer Institute) to improve the integration of HCT services were discussed

EMERGING ACTIVITY OF CELLULAR IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR TREATMENT OF CANCER IN BRAZIL

Cinthya Corrêa da Silva — 2024-07-24

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR T cells) are genetically modified cellular immunotherapies approved for standard of care treatment of patients with lymphoma and leukemia worldwide. Here we report the initial activity in Brazilian centers through the collaboration between the Brazilian Cellular Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplant Society (SBTMO) and Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). A total of 38 patients who received CAR T cells between 2020 and 2023. The median age was 47 years (range 4-77). Indications include Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL; 26 cases; 68%), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL; 9 cases; 24%), and Multiple Myeloma (MM; 3 cases; 8%). 84% (75% - 24 NHL cases and 25% - 8 ALL cases) were commercial. This report demonstrates the initial implementation of CAR T cells in Brazil among centers that report to the SBTMO/CIBMTR. This infrastructure will assist in further capturing the activity, assessing the outcomes, and complying with regulatory requirements.