Healthier Hawaii: How a groundbreaking cancer therapy is saving lives close to home

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – When people think of cancer treatment, chemotherapy and radiation are usually the first methods that come to mind. But a specialized form of immunotherapy is offering new hope to local patients—allowing them to receive cutting-edge care without leaving the islands.

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Dr. Stephanie Si Lim, an oncologist with Hawaiʻi Pacific Health and a researcher at the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center, joined Hawaii News Now to discuss the advancements in cancer care, specifically a treatment known as CAR T-cell therapy.

Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which attacks rapidly dividing cells throughout the entire body, immunotherapy leverages the body’s own defenses.

“Immunotherapy works by helping the body’s own immune system recognize and target specific markers on cancer cells,” Dr. Lim said.

Because of this targeted approach, patients can often avoid common chemotherapy side effects, such as hair loss and severe nausea. While chemotherapy remains a vital tool and is frequently paired with immunotherapy, CAR T-cell therapy represents a massive technological leap forward.

What is CAR T-cell therapy?

CAR T-cell therapy is a highly specialized treatment that essentially trains a patient’s own cells to fight their cancer.

The process begins by collecting a patient’s T-cells—a type of white blood cell. These cells are then genetically modified in a laboratory to target specific cancer markers before being infused back into the patient.

“What’s nice about CAR T is that the infusion usually only takes minutes and is generally only done one time, as opposed to chemotherapy, which is done repeatedly over the course of many months,” Dr. Lim explained.

After the infusion, patients are closely monitored with follow-up appointments to track the treatment’s success.

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Keeping care in the islands

Currently, CAR T-cell therapy is primarily used for patients whose cancer has returned or has not responded to previous traditional treatments. Whether a patient qualifies depends heavily on their specific cancer type and overall health.

Before Hawaiʻi Pacific Health launched its local CAR T program in 2022, local patients facing complex or resistant cancers had to travel thousands of miles to the mainland for this level of care.

Since its launch, the HPH program has treated approximately 30 patients from across the state, including the Neighbor Islands, as well as former Hawaiʻi residents who returned home from the mainland to receive care.

“Having this treatment available locally allows patients to remain close to their families and support systems while receiving advanced cancer care,” Dr. Lim said.

The future of cancer treatment

The reach of CAR T-cell therapy is expected to grow significantly. Researchers worldwide are currently conducting thousands of clinical trials.

While current approved therapies focus primarily on blood cancers, scientists are actively studying how CAR T-cell therapy can be used to treat solid tumors, including:

Oncology experts believe that additional FDA approvals for these expanded treatments could come within the next several years, bringing even more targeted, life-saving options to patients in Hawaiʻi and beyond.

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