September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shed light on the impact of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma while also advocating for research that brings us closer to lifesaving treatments. To build a brighter future for patients everywhere, the MCW Department of Microbiology & Immunology is rallying faculty, staff, students, and the community to join the annual Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) “Light the Night” walk—a nationwide fundraiser that helps accelerate blood cancer discoveries. The department invites champions across the institution and the community to get involved by joining or supporting its CarT ParT Team, and attending Light the Night on Thursday, September 26 at Milwaukee’s Henry Maier Festival Park.
Team CarT ParT was created by Thomas Zahrt, PhD, Professor Emeritus, who was motivated by his own experience with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). “MCW researchers have long been at the forefront of developing new products and experimental procedures to treat blood cancers, including NHL. I formed the team to advance this critical work and provide resources to those directly or indirectly impacted by these cancers,” Dr. Zahrt shared.
This mission is echoed by the team’s co-organizer, Chris Mueller, Department Administrator, who was diagnosed with high-grade B cell lymphoma in 2023. Exceptional care from Dr. Nirav Shah, coupled with a “front-row seat” to many MCW labs where discoveries start, has given Mueller firsthand experience on how cutting-edge research can make a difference. “I participated in a clinical trial that may not have been available to me elsewhere as the second patient in the country. I felt it was my duty to help advance treatment for others by participating in that trial, and now in the LLS walk,” said Mueller.
LLS is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the 1.6 million people across the nation living with blood cancers. The organization currently provides more than $1.1 million in funding to MCW Cancer Center investigators, enabling them to conduct groundbreaking research that benefits people in the community and our institution, including Zahrt, Mueller, and Rich Tennessen, member of the MCW Board of Trustees and multiple myeloma (MM) survivor.
Diagnosed after months of debilitating fatigue, Tennessen turned to Froedtert & MCW, where he was treated with a novel Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, called ide-cel, as part of a phase 1 clinical trial—one of the first in the world to use this approach for MM. Early results of this study showed that 94% of patients responded to the treatment, and 71% had a complete response.
“After my initial hospital visit and PET scan, I researched the best doctors and places for MM treatment—Froedtert & MCW had the best two and three year survival rates ever recorded,” said Tennessen. “My care has been excellent. The team takes the time to explain, answer questions, and understand what each patient is going through. The facilities are top notch and include a large Clinical Trials Office that has a national reputation for excellence and for offering the latest cancer treatments.”
“Rich was very willing to try something new and aggressive, and was probably one of the first patients in the world to receive CAR-T therapy for MM as front-line therapy,” recalled Parameswaran Hari, MD, Adjunct Professor of Hematology and Oncology, who oversaw Tennessen’s initial care.
“This treatment has had a transformative impact on Rich’s life, with his disease under excellent control for nearly four years now—an exceptional outcome for this form of high-risk myeloma,” added Binod Dhakal, MD, Associate Professor of Hematology and Oncology, who continued Tennessen’s care.
Tennessen, who embodies the spirit of MCW’s commitment to patient-centered care, said his experience has fueled his desire to give back. He is serving as the Chair of this year’s Light the Night walk to honor all the work, progress, and sacrifice made by the people who are finding cures and improving outcomes.
“I encourage everyone navigating a cancer diagnosis to get a second opinion, and also to get care from an academic medical center. I’m grateful for the incredibly talented and compassionate people at this institution. What all of you do has a ripple effect on those you care for more than you could ever imagine. Please join us for the Light the Night walk to show your support for LLS and Froedtert & MCW,” said Tennessen.
MCW Researchers Brighten the Path for Patients with Blood Cancers
MCW has long been a national leader in blood cancer research, particularly in pioneering novel treatments like CAR T-cell therapy. MCW’s CAR-T Cell Lab—the only one of its kind in Wisconsin—enables the development of personalized therapies that have transformed the treatment landscape for blood cancers. Investigators in this lab, led by Dr. Shah, recently treated their 100th patient using this innovative approach, offering new hope where traditional treatments have failed. Moreover, MCW’s contributions to clinical trials have led to FDA approvals for several new therapies, providing a lifeline to patients across the country.
“The MCW Cancer Center has played a pivotal role in developing novel therapies—a recent example is its leadership in the FDA approval of another CAR-T therapy, cilta-cel, for patients who relapse after just one prior therapy in MM,” Dr. Dhakal noted.
Beyond CAR T-cell therapy, MCW is home to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), a global leader in blood cancer research and transplantation, with an extensive database to support groundbreaking studies that improve treatment strategies for these diseases.
“Treating patients on clinical trials allows us to both learn more about how to treat rare and aggressive cancers while also offering patients opportunities to get cutting-edge treatments that may provide hope when standard approaches have not been effective. In this way, our Center is making meaningful strides in cancer discoveries at an unprecedented pace,” said Dr. Shah.
Last year, Team CarT ParT’s dedicated efforts resulted in an impressive $11,500 raised for LLS. Dr. Zahrt and Mueller are setting their sights even higher this year with an ambitious fundraising goal of $15,000. Learn how to support Team CarT ParT.