Just a few months after a BMT at TGH, Mauricio Perez poses proudly with his children in front of the family business he founded more than 40 years ago, Perez Brothers Moving

A Palm Beach County man was treated at TGH Cancer Institute locations on both of Florida’s coasts, allowing the patient to receive cutting-edge, world-class care without leaving the state.

As part of its commitment to bringing world-class, innovative cancer treatment to patients across the state of Florida, the Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Cancer Institute has established an adult Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) and Cell Therapies Unit. The new, state-of-the-art unit specializes in treating patients with aggressive blood cancers, including leukemias, lymphomas and multiple myeloma, among other cancers.

Mauricio Perez, a Palm Beach County resident, is battling cancer for the second time in his life. He received a BMT and lymphoma treatment from the TGH Cancer Institute in October 2022. Perez was in the hospital for 10 days and was the first patient treated in the BMT and Cell Therapies Unit.

“They made me feel like I was the only patient there,” Perez said. He headed off to TGH just 24 hours after his doctor, the same oncologist who treated him 10 years ago, told him of the state-of-the-art treatment available at the academic medical center. “It was very important that I be at TGH and all the doctors and nurses answered me right away.”

BMT, also known as stem cell therapy (SCT), is a proven treatment for patients with cancers of the blood for whom the standard treatments have not been effective, or for those with a high risk of relapsing after traditional therapies.

The therapy involves taking stem cells from the bone marrow or peripheral blood from a cancer patient or from a donor. The stem cells are collected in special bags and stored in freezers specifically for that purpose. After the patient receives high-dose chemotherapy, the collected stem cells are thawed and given to the cancer patient through an intravenous infusion (IV) to produce blood cells and to reestablish a healthier immune system.

Dr. Ivan Borrello, a world-class translational investigator in the fields of multiple myeloma, BMT and cell therapies, joined the TGH Cancer Institute to lead the new BMT and Cell Therapies Unit. He previously served at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he was the leader of the Myeloma Program, director of Cellular Therapies Core and a member of the Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program.

“Tampa General is at the forefront of the next generation of world-class academic medical centers and that’s why I wanted to be a part of it,” Borrello said. “Tampa General is marrying the nimbleness of the biotech world with the brain power of an academic medical setting to give physician-scientists the resources and support needed to – at a fast clip – develop groundbreaking and lifesaving therapeutic options for patients with complex cancers and to provide the most innovative and leading-edge care possible.”

Borrello has been involved in the field of cancer immunology and immunotherapy since its infancy in the 1990s. He is internationally recognized for his many contributions to the treatment of multiple myeloma patients and for the development of innovative T-cell therapies using bone marrow-infiltrating lymphocytes (MILs).

“For many years, we have known of the lifesaving properties of stem cells. However, we are just beginning to realize the power of an emerging field known as cell therapies. In our BMT and Cell Therapies Unit, we aim to provide these therapies, as well as make groundbreaking contributions to the field through innovative research,” said Dr. Eduardo M. Sotomayor, director of the TGH Cancer Institute and an internationally recognized pioneer in the fields of cancer immunology and immunotherapy, along with hematologic tumors. “As we continue to build a cancer institute that is at the forefront of innovative treatments for patients with complex cancers, the establishment of our state-of-the-art BMT and Cell Therapies Unit broadens the portfolio of groundbreaking and lifesaving treatment options for cancer patients in our state and beyond.”

Due to the susceptibility of BMT patients to infection, the new unit at the TGH Cancer Institute features extra layers of infection control, including HEPA filtration, air exchanges and water filtration. Private inpatient rooms are beautifully designed with soothing, natural color palettes and artwork and have large windows with waterfront views. Secure, digital Smart Boards in each room help with patient and family communication and small refrigerators allow for additional patient nourishment. Each room also includes an exercise bike to help patients build their strength and a couch converts into sleeping space for a family member to stay with the patient.

“Regardless of where they come from, TGH Cancer Institute patients enjoy an improved continuity of care through our program,” said Dr. Abraham Schwarzberg, executive vice president of Network Development, chief of TGH Cancer Institute and vice president of Clinical and Translational Research at TGH. Schwarzberg is a practicing medical oncologist located in Palm Beach County and is treating Perez. “These therapies can significantly increase the chance of recovery from blood cancers and, hopefully soon, of patients with solid malignancies,” he added.

The unit reflects the TGH Cancer Institute’s philosophy of bringing together a range of multidisciplinary specialties that strongly emphasizes compassionate and personalized care, focusing on the whole patient. In addition to physicians who are hematology oncologists with advanced training in BMT and immunotherapy, the team includes specialized nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, counselors, spiritual services, physical and occupational therapy, dietary services and pharmacy.

To find a cancer specialist near you, visit TGH.org/ThePalmBeaches.