UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Launches Groundbreaking BiTE Therapy Program, Bringing Advanced Cancer Treatment to Central Pennsylvania

Support from UPMC Pinnacle Foundation helps eliminate financial barriers for local patients

June 25, 2025

HARRISBURG, Pa. – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Central Pa. with the support of the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation recently launched the region's first Bispecific T-cell Engager (BiTE) therapy. This innovative immunotherapy program, approved by the FDA, represents a significant advancement in the treatment of small cell lung cancer and certain hematologic cancers, such as multiple myeloma and lymphoma.

“BiTE therapy is a powerful new tool in our fight against solid tumors and blood cancers. Its impact on patients’ lives has been extraordinary,” said Dr. V. Rajagopalan, director of Heme Malignancy and Adoptive Immunotherapy at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in central Pa. “By redirecting a patient’s own T cells to target and destroy malignant cells, BiTEs provide a highly precise and effective treatment option. For patients who previously had to travel long distances for care, we can now deliver this cutting-edge therapy right here in central Pennsylvania, allowing them to stay close to home and near their support systems during a critical time.”

BiTE therapy represents a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment, by using antibodies engineered in a lab, that have the ability to connect a patient's immune system T-cells directly to their cancer cells, to provide a direct pathway for the T cells to attack and kill the cancer cells. These new therapies are offering renewed hope to patients with myeloma, lymphoma and more recently, lung cancer—where treatment options were once limited.

Prior to this program's establishment, central Pennsylvania patients requiring BiTE therapy often traveled to Pittsburgh or to other larger cities for treatment. These advanced immunotherapies require patients and their families to relocate near treatment centers for two to three weeks or longer, creating financial, emotional, and logistical challenges.

Under the leadership of Rajagopalan, the program has already treated more than 30 patients across multiple cancer types in its first five months. The program serves patients from Harrisburg, York, Carlisle, and Lititz, with plans to expand to northern practices and additional regional partners.

Wanda Stouffer, a 77-year-old woman from Carlisle, Pa., is one of the remarkable patients benefiting from the life changing BiTE therapy.

“I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and in March this year, I was told I had just two months to live,” said Stouffer. “However, just a week later, I received a call about being a candidate for the BiTE therapy at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Since starting treatment with Rajagopalan, I’ve had no side effects at all, and my numbers have dropped dramatically. I’m back to my normal activities and am so grateful for this second chance.”

The program is positioned to serve as a regional alternative to major metropolitan cancer centers, keeping families together during treatment while providing the highest standard of care. The UPMC Pinnacle Foundation's charitable support helps address critical program needs, including financial assistance for patients who cannot afford treatment, home monitoring kits providing blood pressure, oxygen saturation and temperature monitoring for every patient, accommodation support for families during extended treatment periods and program infrastructure and specialized staff training.

"The BiTE therapy program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center marks a significant achievement," said Rajagopalan. "Every patient deserves access to the most advanced treatments available, and the Foundation's support enables us to remove financial barriers and provide comprehensive care that extends beyond the treatment itself to support patients and their families throughout their journey."

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Central Pa. has approximately 40,000 patient visits for medical oncology and infusion annually, averaging close to 100 appointments per day. It is one of just 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the country, which provides cutting-edge treatment and access to hundreds of clinical trials.

For more information or to schedule an appointment at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Central Pa., visit UPMCHillman.com/CentralPA.