Research Proposal

Senam Attipoe
Independent Research G/T
2017-18

CAR T or Transplants: Comparing Leukemia’s Newest Treatments

Overview of Research
My research focuses on the comparison of immunotherapy and stem cell transplants as
treatments for Leukemia. The general area of research is leukemia while the specific
areas are the types of treatments. The success rates, remission rates, side effects, and
recovery times will be evaluated and compared. The problem is that too many people are
dying from leukemia despite the many standard treatments. These two treatments-
immunotherapy and stem cell transplantation- are proven to be successful leukemia
treatments but are often not utilized. My research will show the benefits of both but will
ultimately declare one better than the other.

Background and History of Leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood. It is the most common form of cancer in children-
hence the nickname “children’s cancer.” There are two classifications of leukemia. The first is
based on how the disease develops and is either acute, meaning the disease spreads rapidly, or
chronic, meaning the cancer develops more slowly over a longer period of time. The second
classification depends on the type of blood cell that has become cancerous. Myeloid leukemia is
caused by a dysfunction in myeloid cells, while lymphoid leukemia is caused by a dysfunction in
lymphoid cells. The four most common types of leukemia are as follows: Acute Lymphocytic,
Acute Myeloid, Chronic Lymphocytic, and Chronic Myeloid. One of the biggest reasons why
leukemia, and cancer in general, is so hard to treat is because the white blood cells do not
recognize cancer cells as dangerous. Common treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation
therapy have only a 70% success rate. That is, 70% of patient’s go into remission long term.
Stem cell transplants are an increasingly popular and effective method in treating diseases

that damage or destroy bone marrow. The damaged or destroyed cells are replaced with healthy

stem cells, which can be harvested from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and umbilical cord

blood. Two types of transplants are performed most often. During autologous transplants, a
person’s stem cells are harvested then returned to that same person’s body. During allogeneic

transplants, stem cells from a donor are transplanted into a patient’s body. Side effects?

There is another form of leukemia treatment called chimeric antigen receptor therapy (or

CAR T). This treatment is also known as immunotherapy. The method consists of using gene

therapy to train the patient’s immune system to recognize and fight off cancer cells. When large

amounts of cancer cells are killed at once with this treatment, the immune system is fighting

tremendously hard, resulting in fevers and respiratory difficulties, among other side effects. CAR

T was approved by an FDA panel for further testing and is hoped to soon be able to treat other

diseases as well as other cancers.

Problem Statement and Rationale

CAR T and stem cell transplantations are important to cancer research because there are many
children who are affected by leukemia and other types of cancers due to a lack of successful
treatments. There are many standard treatments for leukemia, including chemotherapy, radiation
therapy, and targeted therapy, but they have an unsatisfactory success rate? There are a lot of
treatment options that are becoming increasingly popular, such as stem cell transplantation and
immunotherapy, which have higher success rates than the standard treatment options.

Research Methodology

Research Question and Hypothesis

 How effective have immunotherapy/CAR T and stem cell transplants been and
which is “better”?
 CAR T is a better treatment than stem cell transplants because the success rates of
remission are higher and the remission lasts longer.

Basis of Hypothesis
I hypothesized that CAR T will be more effective than stem cell transplants
because the research has proven to be more promising. Numerous clinical trials
are being conducted and the results evinced more patients in remission than stem
cell transplantations. What makes cancer so hard to treat is the aspect of genetics
that scientists often ignore. Cancer cells mutate and survive by manipulating the
patient’s DNA. Immunotherapy manages to combine the cancer aspect with the
genetics aspect and allows the body to use its natural healing process (with a little
push).
 Research Design
My research will be correlational and qualitative. I will gather information by
conducting interviews. I hope to talk with professionals who research or otherwise
perform one or both of the treatments being compared- either immunotherapy or
stem cell transplants. I would also like to talk to patients who have had positive
experiences with either treatments and whose treatments have been successful.

Operational Definitions
CAR T (Chimeric antigen receptor therapy)/immunotherapy- the prevention or
treatment of disease with substances that stimulate the natural immune response
Stem cell transplant- the replacement of damaged or destroyed cells with healthy
stem cells, which can be harvested from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and
umbilical cord blood

Product Overview
The year’s research will likely be compiled and presented as a fundraiser for the
treatment that proves to be more effective. Both treatments are expensive, as are most
cancer treatments, but because they have not been normalized, they have not been funded
to the fullest extent possible. The money raised will go towards research companies.
The intended audience will be fellow students.

Logistical Considerations
To create this fundraiser, I could use the website GoFundMe. This would bring more
traffic and thus more money than if I were to do an in-person, one or two-day fundraiser.
I could advertise it online and in my classes. It may be difficult for donators to evaluate
this method of presentation; however, one method of evaluation could be making sure
that the donors fully understand the cause they are supporting.