The Future of Blood Cancer Treatment
Milwaukee’s Versiti Blood Research Institute is leading the way in fighting leukemia.
Blood cancers like leukemia develop when the genes that regulate blood cell development mutate and cease to function normally. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for leukemia; however, it kills not only cancer cells, but also normal, healthy cells, sometimes resulting in life-threatening side effects and irreversible damage to vital organs.
Versiti Blood Research Institute (VBRI) Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer Michael W. Deininger, MD, PhD, is one of the foremost leukemia researchers in the nation. He came to Versiti in 2021, after holding positions at universities and medical facilities across the United States.
“I came to VBRI because it is entirely focused on blood disorders and brings them all together,” Dr. Deininger says. “I’m mostly interested in leukemia, but there are so many connections with other blood disorders.”
HYPER-FOCUSED CANCER RESEARCH
VBRI investigators use innovative research techniques to discover new treatments for cancer that take less of a toll on patients’ bodies and spare their healthy cells. For example, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy modifies a patient’s immune cells to make them recognize and kill tumor cells. VBRI researchers are developing CAR-T cells to target leukemia and improve patient outcomes. Another strategy targets the mutations that cause healthy cells to turn cancerous, decreasing tumor growth while preserving the healthy tissues that maintain quality of life.
“In collaboration with the international research community, we turned chronic
myeloid leukemia (CML) from a deadly disease into a manageable condition with a survival rate equal to that of someone without CML,” Dr. Deininger says. “We figured that once we knew what drives the survival of CML cells, we can kill them without touching healthy tissues. We translated that knowledge into a new molecule that changed the lives of CML patients and proved that rationally targeted cancer therapy works.”
VBRI’S BREADTH OF EXPERTISE
VBRI investigators’ strong background in a variety of malignant and non-malignant hematological disorders, including blood clotting, severe hemorrhaging and inherited bleeding disorders, has enabled Dr. Deininger to expand his work and explore new avenues of research. For example, clotting is a major cause of death among cancer patients, while some leukemia patients experience severe hemorrhaging in their lungs. The ability to collaborate with investigators hyper-focused on these areas has made a positive impact on Dr. Deininger’s leukemia research.
“Blood disorders touch every other part of medicine,” he says. “That puts us in a unique position to collaborate between different disciplines and enhance others’ research.”
EXPANDING VBRI’S RESEARCH FOOTPRINT
In addition to propelling this lifesaving research, Dr. Deininger is enthusiastic about VBRI’s upcoming expansion, which will almost double its research capacity, add nearly 100 new jobs and bring the Institute closer to “critical mass,” he says.
The upcoming Versiti on King expansion will also bring a blood donation and community resource center to the Bronzeville neighborhood, further showcasing Versiti’s commitment to increasing blood donor participation and access to treatment for individuals in historically underserved communities.
Hans Loland
Hans’ chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) was not responding to treatment. He was days away from a risky bone marrow transplant when he learned of a clinical trial of a promising new drug. This drug, developed by Dr. Deininger and his colleagues, was specifically designed to address the mutation that made Hans’ leukemia resistant. Getting into the trial proved to be a challenge, but Dr. Deininger’s team worked hard to convince Hans’ insurance company to include him, admitting him with days to spare.
Since then, the experimental treatment has completely transformed Hans’ life. His leukemia has been undetectable for years, even with the most sensitive tests.
Thanks to scientific research, Hans can see his four boys grow up, coach competitive soccer and lead a completely normal life.
“We want to be a resource to the city, and ultimately to the state of Wisconsin as well,” Dr. Deininger says. “We believe that with Versiti’s network, we can make a powerful local impact.” ◆
