The first time Nathan Gallups was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 3, a bone marrow transplant from his father saved his life. When his cancer returned at age 7, a groundbreaking treatment finally turned the tide.
Dr. Van Huynh, a pediatric oncologist at the Hyundai Cancer Institute at Rady Children’s, treated Nathan for Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare, hard-to-treat form of cancer resistant to chemotherapy. Fighting his uncommon diagnosis a second time required an extraordinary solution: CAR T-cell therapy.
Oncologists collected Nathan’s white blood cells, which were genetically engineered to track and destroy the leukemia cells in his body. CAR T-cell therapy harnessed Nathan’s own immune system to target cancer cells as it would a foreign bacteria or an infection. It was an invaluable treatment option that gave Nathan a fighting chance to get healthy again.
During his time at Rady Children’s, Nathan kept smiling, and his care team encouraged him to play and enjoy his childhood throughout his treatment. Reading books at the Health and Healing Library in the Monica and Christopher Furman Family Resource Center became a favorite destination.
A month after receiving CAR T-cell therapy, Nathan was in remission. His mother, Casey, believes the family owes his life to Dr. Huynh and his successful treatment plan at the Hyundai Cancer Institute.
“I was so privileged to walk the journey with them,” Dr. Huynh said. “What an incredible family. Nathan is thriving.”
