"Without immunotherapy Justin would not have survived," said Amy Condoluci, Justin's mom. 

 

A ten-year battle is finally ceasing as Justin Condoluci has been in remission for 18 months after receiving CAR T cell therapy - a treatment that uses the child's own immune system to fight the cancer - at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Donations from Curing Kids Cancer funded Justin's treatment.

 

Justin at a youth sporting event.

Back in 2006, the Condoluci family was living a normal life in New Jersey with their 4 kids, when one of their 8-year-old triplets was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. This is the same type of leukemia that Killian Owen -the inspiration for Curing Kids Cancer- fought for so many years.

  

After an initial round of treatment at a local hospital and his first relapse, Justin sought care at CHOP, 100 miles away from his home. As he endured treatment after treatment, Justin relapsed again. During his second relapse Justin was given high-dose chemo and endured more than 20 rounds of radiation over a 2-year period. 

 

While he was being treated, another child received the first CAR T-19 therapy  at CHOP and survived. Amy vividly remembered Dr. Rheingold, Justin's oncologist, telling her how excited she was. 

 

"If Justin relapses again we finally have something new to offer him," said Dr. Rheingold.

 

Sadly, that "if" became a "when" - only 4 months after completing therapy the cancer returned. This time it was his marrow and central nervous system. Justin's triplet sister Annie was a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant. On Sept. 26, 2013, Justin had his transplant.  

 

In 2014, Justin relapsed for the fourth time. By the time Justin was ready to receive his CAR T therapy, the leukemia had returned to his marrow, spinal fluid, and fluid around his eyes.  Justin received his cells in February 2015. Sixty days after his treatment, there was no trace of his cancer. He has been in remission for a little over 18 months, the longest he has ever gone! 

 

If not for Curing Kids Cancer, Justin may have not received his treatment. He was treated "off trial" because of the central nervous system involvement. Prior to receiving his CAR T therapy, Justin had severe allergic reactions to two of the chemotherapy drugs he received. This is an example of why Curing Kids Cancer focuses on finding better therapies like CAR T-cell therapy rather than chemotherapy and radiation - to provide kids with safer and more effective options for fighting their cancers.

 

"Immunotherapy is absolutely the greatest hope we have for curing these kids.  We are so blessed that Justin was able to participate," said Amy.

In the years since Killian broke the mold by receiving a targeted therapy, to see where childhood cancer therapies are today is astounding. Killian made a path for kids like Justin by being the first child in the world to be treated with a targeted drug BL22. If not for Killian's battle, it is likely that children would still be fighting to receive treatments like CAR T-cell therapy.

 

Grainne presented Dr. Grupp with a check for CAR T-cell therapy.

"Without the money to fund the grants to allow the scientists and doctors the time needed in the lab - we will never find a cure.  A cure takes time, and that time costs money. I truly believe Immunotherapy is the most important medical breakthrough since penicillin and organizations like Curing Kids Cancer is one of reasons immunotherapy is working for so many cancer patients," said Amy. 

 

On Dec. 3 Justin celebrated his 18th birthday, a day that was not promised.  He is hoping to attend college next year and study biology/medicine. He would like to someday be a pediatric oncologist. One day Justin may be saving lives, just how his doctors and Curing Kids Cancer helped his life.