For Prospective Patients
Immune Pheresis Treatment Is…
Safe
- No drugs or radiation
- No surgery other than installation of subclavian catheter
- No long-term adverse effects
- Awarded a CE mark – the EU equivalent of FDA approval – in 2008
Effective
- Over 100 metastatic patients have been treated to date with Immune Pheresis procedure and technology; another 100 treated previously with prior UltraPhereis™ technology
- Data show: effective against most, perhaps all solid tumor types
- Majority of patients experienced significant tumor reduction, with many attaining remission
- Annual maintenance treatments required for some patients to remain in remission, but…
- Efficacy constant in repeat applications (tumors do not build tolerance)
Good Quality of Life On Treatment
- No hair loss, immune suppression, renal damage or other adverse effects
- Transient tumor pain and flu-like symptoms while on treatment
- Average treatment: 3-6 hours per day, 3-5 days per week, 1-3 months total
- Patients can read, watch movies or sleep while on treatment; live actively while off
Patient Qualifications
All patients must be approved for treatment by the staff of the Lentz Treatment Center; a referral from a physician is not sufficient by itself for admission. There are some important disqualifiers: Patients with a prognosis of less than 2 months, with Karnofsky status below 50%, or with significant co-morbidities are generally too sick for Immune Pheresis.
Tumors in the central nervous system (CNS) pose special risks when treated by Immune Pheresis. Tumor inflammation is a normal response to Immune Pheresis, a reaction that is well-tolerated in most regions of the body with the exception of the CNS, where it can lead to cerebral edema and other potentially life-threatening conditions. We do not accept any patients with active tumors in the brain stem; however, we have recently started treating patients with tumors in the brain itself, with positive results. We accept such patients on a very limited, case-by-case basis.
Cost and Insurance Reimbursement
Immune Pheresis costs $3,000 USD per treatment, with an average of 12 treatments being administered per month, with 1-3 months sometimes necessary to show maximum results (major tumor reduction or remission). Thus the average treatment cost for a metastatic cancer patient can run $36k-$120k USD. Maintaining remission, once attained, can require a smaller number of additional treatments on an annual basis.
The cost of Immune Pheresis is driven primarily by the cost of the biologic inside our affinity columns, which filter immune inhibitors from plasma. This biologic is produced by genetically engineered bacteria; manufacturing this biologic is a very expensive process, especially in small batches. As we scale up production of our biologic, we expect to be able to reduce the price significantly.
Limited reimbursement is available for Immune Pheresis treatment. A small number of patients from the United States have obtained reimbursement under BlueCross/Blue Shield policies that cover medical care overseas. Some socialized medical systems cover this new form of treatment when older standard therapies have failed. Some corporations reimburse Immune Pheresis treatment under their corporate health care plans; a major example is Parker-Hannifen Corporation. Other private and government insuring entities worldwide are either currently evaluating Immune Pheresis for reimbursement or have yet to be approached.
Patient Care
Patients and family receive the very best medical and nursing care in first class, comfortable surroundings. Our friendly and competent Patient Care Coordination staff ensures that you have everything you need. Our patients see their doctors every day. We do our best for our patients!
Support for the Patient’s Immune System
Optimizing the efficacy of Immune Pheresis in treating your cancer requires that your immune system be as strong as possible. Thus we also provide a sophisticated program of nutritional and micro-nutritional support along with exercise and stress management. Often life-style changes are necessary to achieve the longest possible clinical benefit.
The Lentz Treatment Center is located in an idyllic rural setting at the base of the Alps, with clean air and water and very little noise. During your time with us, we encourage you to enjoy Mozart, nature and your returning health. We make every possible effort to minimize or eliminate stress, which in our experience interferes with optimal tumor response.
Getting Here
See our Location page for information about getting here, lodging and local attractions.