A Decade-Long Fight: How a Newly Approved CAR-T Therapy Saved Mark's Life

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A Decade-Long Fight: How a Newly Approved CAR-T Therapy Saved Mark's Life

Mark Vadney of Lawton, Oklahoma, spent his career helping others as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), but the roles suddenly reversed when he found himself facing a complex cancer journey that would span more than a decade.

After graduating from his anesthesia program, Vadney noticed enlarged lymph nodes in his neck and chest area. Despite his medical background and persistent concerns, several physicians initially dismissed his symptoms.

"They would tell me, 'Oh, don't worry about it. It's from an old infection,' or 'You're the healthiest person we know,'" Vadney said.

The turning point came in August 2006 when he discovered a large mass in his armpit. A subsequent biopsy confirmed follicular lymphoma, a diagnosis that would transform his life. He had Stage IV at initial presentation with lymph node and bone marrow involvement, but because he did not have significant symptoms, he was on observation which is standard for this cancer. Since chemotherapy can’t cure his type of cancer, doctors often wait until cancer becomes symptomatic to begin treatment to avoid excessive toxicities from prolonged periods of treatments.

"It was a shock, really, to me. Even though I've been feeling these lymph nodes, I felt completely well. I felt healthy. I worked out," Vadney said.

Facing Cancer Head-On

Over the next several years, he had various treatments, including chemotherapy. As a single father at the time, he showed remarkable resilience and continued to work. In 2008, he had his first treatment with a strong mix of medicines called R-CHOP, which includes drugs that kill cancer cells and help the immune system. He then had two years of another medicine called rituximab to keep the cancer from coming back. The cancer came back in 2015, and he was treated again with a different mix of medicines called bendamustine rituximab.

The cancer then returned in October 2022. This time, he was treated with another strong mix of medicines called R-GemOx, but it didn't work well, and he started having more symptoms.

The disease was becoming more aggressive.

National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Care

His local oncologist referred him to OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center—Oklahoma's only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center—where he met with hematologist-oncologist Dr. Taha Al-Juhaishi, M.D, assistant professor in the Section of Hematology-Oncology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, who specializes in blood and bone marrow cancers. By this point, it was Vadney's third relapse of follicular lymphoma.

"Each previous treatment had given him about four to five years of remission," Dr. Al-Juhaishi said. "But with this relapse, he was not feeling well and experiencing symptoms. Fortunately, by the time he came to us in early 2023, CAR-T cell therapy had been FDA-approved for follicular lymphoma."

The FDA approval of Yescarta (the specific CAR-T therapy) for follicular lymphoma came in March 2021, showing impressive results with a 91% response rate (the percentage of patients whose cancer responded to the treatment) and a 60% complete response rate. Most notably, patients typically showed a response within just one month of treatment.

"When a slow-growing cancer like follicular lymphoma keeps coming back after multiple treatments, it's no longer behaving like a slow-growing cancer," Dr. Al-Juhaishi said. "It becomes more resistant to treatment, and patients become more symptomatic and will have shorter remissions with therapies."

The Promise of CAR-T Therapy

After discussing multiple treatment options, Vadney initially chose a different path. But by Monday, he had changed his mind, telling his doctor he wanted to do the CAR-T treatment. Dr. Al-Juhaishi appreciated Vadney's thorough approach to the decision.

"He takes his time and does his research,” Dr. Al-Juhaishi said. “We talked extensively over multiple visits about benefits and risks, and he consulted with his wife. Once he decided, that was it."

The journey wasn't without challenges. After receiving his engineered T cells, Vadney experienced significant side effects, including cytokine release syndrome, neurotoxicity, and a pulmonary embolism. He lost over 30 pounds and spent months recovering.

"He had all the typical side effects that people can get from CAR-T," Dr. Al-Juhaishi said. "But he was proactive about his care, jumping right on top of any infections. What's remarkable is that since his hospital discharge, he returned to working full-time as a CRNA, despite the risks of exposure to infection in an operating room environment."

The results proved worth the struggle. More than a year after treatment, Vadney remains in remission. One of his most cherished moments came when he fulfilled his promise to walk his daughter down the aisle at her wedding, despite being frail from treatment.

"I would have died without CAR-T, there's no doubt about it," Vadney said. His gratitude led him to write a letter to the pharmaceutical company that developed the technology that saved his life.

Looking Ahead with Hope

Today, in his 60s, Vadney continues rebuilding his strength. While still managing some treatment effects and requiring ongoing care, he maintains a positive outlook and deep appreciation for the care he received at OU Health.

"If CAR-T gets me through another seven years or 10 years, or however long, I will have lived a normal lifespan, pretty much," Vadney reflected. "And I'm grateful for that."

OU Health's investment in innovative therapies like CAR-T is transforming outcomes for patients with complex cancers, allowing them to return to their lives, families, and careers. As Oklahoma's only facility offering this revolutionary treatment, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center ensures that patients like Vadney can receive leading-edge care without leaving the state.

Learn more about CAR-T or advanced cancer treatments at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, request an appointment or second opinion online, or call (855) 750-2273 to speak with an expert.