The Center for Cell & Gene Therapy (CAGT) is a collaboration between experts at Houston Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. We work together to provide the infrastructure of research, manufacturing and clinical care needed to develop and apply innovative and cost-effective cell and gene therapies.
It is a top priority at Houston Methodist to make potentially lifesaving treatments available to patients as soon as possible.
An Expert Team Dedicated to Cell and Gene Therapy
Our experts are dedicated to exploring the origins of disease, developing novel therapeutic treatments and applying these therapies in clinical practice for the benefit of adults and children.
The goal of the center is to:
Facilitate and support collaboration among experts in all areas of human disease so that cellular and genetic therapies may be used as safely and as rapidly as possible
Ensure that cell and gene therapy patients have continued access to the latest and most effective cellular and genetic treatments available
Our comprehensive approach brings a wide variety of scientists and clinicians together to develop strategies for the treatment of cancer, HIV and cardiovascular disease. Our facility includes a variety of high-tech features, including:
An adult unit designed specifically for the specialized care of immunocompromised patients, including the use of an advanced air filtration system
A family care setting in the Adult Stem Cell Transplant unit, which includes an activity center, computer business center and entertainment/dining area
In addition, the center contains laboratory space to support a wide array of basic and translational research regarding cell and gene therapy.
About Cell and Gene Therapy
Your genes are the parts of your cells that contain DNA, the “code” that determines your body’s form and function. Researchers have found that certain genetic defects can cause a variety of diseases, including cancer.
Cell and gene therapy as a cancer treatment can work in many different ways:
Changing the genes that control your normal immune cells so that they are better able to recognize and kill the cancer
Engineering immune cells to recognize specific viruses in order to restore patient immune systems after bone marrow and stem cell transplantation
Blocking dangerous pathways or otherwise inhibiting cancer growth using small molecule inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies
Because a gene cannot be inserted directly into a cell, it must be delivered using a carrier, also called a vector. The most commonly used vectors in cell and gene therapy are harmless viruses, which have a unique ability to recognize certain cells and insert genetic material into them.
The two general approaches for introducing vectors into the body to deliver genetic content include:
Taking cells from your blood or bone marrow and introducing these cells to the vector carrying the desired gene in the laboratory. The cells are grown in a culture in the lab and then reintroduced into your body. This is called ex vivo genetic therapy.
Delivering a synthetic vector (usually a harmless version of a virus) containing the desired gene directly into your body via injection. This is called in vivo genetic therapy.
Your specific treatment will depend on the type of cancer you have and the type of cell and gene therapy being used.
Your doctor will discuss any relevant protocols with you, including potential risks and benefits. Because all current cell and gene therapies are investigational, you will receive a consent form that includes a detailed explanation of the therapy.
As with any cancer treatment, it is important to pay close attention to the instructions from your doctor and know which warning signs to watch out for in the days and months following your procedure.
Because cell and gene therapy is still in the experimental stage, there may be risks that have not yet been discovered. Certain risks are possible, especially when viruses are used as carriers for the genetic material.
Your doctor will discuss the potential risks of the therapy with you, and any possible side effects will also be outlined in detail on the consent form you receive.
