Immunotherapy has emerged as the fourth pillar in cancer therapy, complementing surgery, radiation and chemotherapy with its non-overlapping toxicity and mechanism of action. Remarkable success has been observed in patients with tumour refractory to all standard treatments. These advances were based on solid research that elucidated fundamental principles derived from prior treatment failure and toxicity. With the recruitment of Professor Wing Leung into the Paediatrics ACP, a state-of-the-art Bone Marrow Transplant and Cell Therapy Centre is being established.
The immediate goal is to set up robust clinical and research programmes depicted above, making leading-edge cell therapies available to patients in Singapore, and to train the current team of oncologists in cell-based therapy. The long-term goals of the BMTCTC are as follows:
One of the primary goals of the BMTCTC is to further develop mismatched family donor stem cell transplantation as a standard treatment for patients who do not have a matched donor or whose disease is refractory to all conventional treatment.
2. To initiate new cellular therapy programmes that perform leading-edge cell-based therapy.
Another goal of the new BMTCTC is to build a contemporary programme for the treatment of patients with a high risk malignancy that has a high propensity for relapse, and for patients with chemo-refractory malignancy. This programme functions synergistically the mismatched transplantation programme to optimise patients’ health outcomes.
3. To establish a reference facility for donor cell typing and patient monitoring.
Selection of the optimal stem cell donor and natural killer (NK) cell donor by donor-cell typing is essential for successful transplantation and cell therapy. One of the goals of the BMTCTC is to establish a cell typing facility and immune reference lab.
4. To conduct basic science investigations, the findings of which will be of immediate translational use in the clinic.
Key focuses of basic science research at the BMTCTC include immunogenetics, transplant biology, cancer immunology and developmental biology.
5. To utilise the first-class transplantation programme and laboratories as arenas for the education of trainees and career development of junior physicians and scientists.
The new BMTCTC provides state-of-the-art training and educational opportunities to medical students, graduate students, residents and fellows. It also supports the career development of junior faculty members and technologists.
6. To reach out to other transplant and cell therapy centres, and to educate and consult with national and international healthcare professionals.
A major aim of the BMTCTC is outreach to other centres for exchange and collaboration. These activities will benefit many patients who need the life-saving procedures, either in Singapore or in their home institutions. The visiting fellow training programme is expanded in size and scope accordingly.
