20 years of progress: Würzburg center revolutionizes stem cell therapies!

20 years of progress: Würzburg center revolutionizes stem cell therapies!

Pioneering work in blood stem cell transplantation has been carried out in Würzburg for 20 years. The Medical Clinic II and the Children's Clinic at the Würzburg University Hospital (UKW) have expanded their expertise in this area. In particular, malignant diseases of the blood and lymphatic system, such as acute leukemia and lymphoma, are the focus of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. At this point, over 10 million potential stem cell donors in Germany come into play, and the chances of finding a suitable donor are good - over 90 percent nationwide. In 2025, the UKW will carry out around 120 allogeneic and up to 200 autologous stem cell transplants annually, with multiple myeloma being a particular focus here.

But the UKW is at the forefront not only in transplantation, but also in innovative cell therapies. The Center for Cellular Immunotherapy (ZenITh), founded in 2019, aims to develop new treatment approaches. One focus is CAR T-cell therapy, which is used over 100 times a year in adults and around five times in children. This therapy has the potential to activate the body's own T lymphocytes so that they specifically attack tumor cells - an approach that is generating great interest in hematology and oncology, as reported by Universitätsmedizin Leipzig).

Innovations very close

What exactly is behind CAR T-cell therapy? It is a modern cell therapy approach in which a patient's own T cells are genetically engineered so that they can recognize and destroy cancer cells. This process involves several steps, starting with collecting the lymphocytes and processing them in a special laboratory through to chemotherapy and returning the modified cells. However, such therapies may only be carried out in qualified clinics that have all the necessary approvals and human resources.

One desired goal is the further development of these therapies in order to increase the chances of survival in the tumor environment. The medical professionals at UKW are well equipped for this. In addition, another cleanroom laboratory for the production of CAR T cells for clinical studies will be opened in autumn 2025, which will further strengthen the research fields in the region. These projects are partly financed through fundraising, for example under the direction of Gabriele Nelkenstock, who already built the new stem cell transplant center.

Everyday life in the center

However, the focus on innovative therapies does not mean the end of regular transplants. Every year, numerous transplants are carried out at the UKW, which not only treats acute leukemias, but also expands the therapeutic options to non-malignant blood diseases. This is achieved through close cooperation between the Medical Clinic II and the Children's Clinic, which had to divide their activities between different buildings.

The positive development of the center shows once again how strongly rooted research in the area of ​​stem cell transplantation and cell therapy is in the region. The UKW is not only establishing itself as a leading local center, but also supporting other university hospitals with its expertise in the GMP cell therapy laboratory, which serves as a logistics hub for CAR-T cells. The medical community is excited to see what advances will be made in the coming years and what positive impact they will have on patients. The Würzburg University Hospital definitely remains a place where future medicine is being actively shaped.