Why Penn Medicine matters to our patients

Penn Medicine brings research to life, directly to patients in Lancaster and across the world. The University of Pennsylvania has built a complex system of scientific and medical discovery that depends upon bench scientists, front-line doctors and nurses, and patients.  With many decades of scientific work and discovery, Penn researchers have built and tested cancer treatments that harness the power of the body’s own immune system to fight cancer cells. These treatments are referred to as “immunotherapy,” and Penn Medicine is a world leader in what is now called the ImmunoRevolution.

Penn Medicine’s remarkably successful discovery work includes multiple types of immunotherapy, including T-cell therapies, vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies -- given alone or in combination with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, stem cell therapy or combinations.

In 2018, Penn Medicine research led to FDA approval of four important new anticancer therapies:

• Olaparib for BRCA+ breast cancer: Dr. Susan Domchek
• Kymriah for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Dr. Stephen Schuster
• Azedra for Pheochromocytoma & Paraganglioma: Dr. Daniel Pryma
• Xospata for Acute MyeloidLeukemia: Dr. Alexander Perl

Robert H. Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, Director, Abramson Cancer Center, says, “The University of Pennsylvania ignited the ImmunoRevolution. Research discoveries within the Abramson Cancer Center are traversing our health system and campus. This Penn Power is changing the way we treat patients with cancer and beyond.”

The ABBCI is proud to be a part of Penn Medicine. Our patients have direct access to Penn Medicine clinical trials advancing the front line of cancer research, bringing significant positive impact to our patients and adding to the scientific knowledge base.