Carl Burgman achieved long-term remission from high-resistant multiple myeloma after receiving a single infusion of engineered natural killer cells in a Phase I clinical trial, Health Usnews reported.
Donor Cells and Targeted Mechanisms Reduce Side Effects
- Off-the-shelf readiness: Unlike traditional therapies that require harvesting a patient’s own cells, this treatment uses donor umbilical cord blood cells to eliminate manufacturing wait times.
- Targeted cellular mechanism: Scientists reprogram natural killer white blood cells with a specialized chimeric antigen receptor to track down and destroy rogue cancer plasma cells.
- Favorable toxicity profile: Early trial data show the infusion triggers fewer severe side effects, such as graft-versus-host disease, compared to older cellular immunotherapies.
From Spinal Fractures to a Rare Cancer Diagnosis
In 2008, Carl Burgman began experiencing back pain caused by unusual compression fractures in his spine. His internal medicine doctor and hematologist ran blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy, discovering a noncancerous condition known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, or MGUS. This disorder increases bone fragility, particularly in the spine and hips, and requires close monitoring of monoclonal protein levels.
For the next decade, Burgman underwent routine blood checks to track his M-protein levels. Eventually, those antibody levels began to spike. On February 28, 2018, his hematologist-oncologist in Tulsa delivered the diagnosis that his condition had progressed to multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer that causes plasma cells to multiply uncontrollably.
Left unchecked, the disease triggers severe damage to bones, kidneys, and the immune system. Burgman underwent chemotherapy later that year, followed by a stem cell transplant designed to repopulate his body with healthy cells. Unfortunately, he relapsed nine months later, and then repeatedly after subsequent treatments.
“Since I had ultra-high-risk disease, I was aware of the possibility of having trouble staying in remission,” Burgman said. “Even though I am a very pragmatic person, I will admit the feeling of desperation did present itself.”
How Engineered Natural Killer Cells Target Myeloma
Faced with refractory disease, Burgman enrolled as the very first patient in a Phase I clinical trial testing a novel immunotherapy. The treatment uses natural killer cells, a type of white blood cell that fights foreign invaders. Scientists reprogram these cells with a specialized sensor known as a chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR, allowing them to recognize and eliminate cancer cells.
While CAR-T therapy requires harvesting and growing a patient’s own T cells over several weeks, CAR-NK therapy utilizes cells sourced from a large donated umbilical cord blood bank. Because these donated cells carry a much lower risk of attacking healthy tissue, doctors can maintain ready-to-go supplies without custom manufacturing delays.
As the first human subject in the trial, Burgman received the smallest possible dose to test the therapy’s safety profile. Rezvani explained the primary objective of the early trial.
“Because this is an early clinical trial, our first question is always whether the treatment is safe,” Rezvani said. “Carl’s experience has been very encouraging in that regard – he tolerated the treatment extremely well.”
After undergoing conditioning chemotherapy, Burgman received a 3.8cc dose of engineered NK cells. He stayed in the hospital for 15 days of close monitoring.
“Once receiving the small 3.8cc dose of NK cells, it was anti-climactic,” Burgman said. Burgman had no side effects, so it was a rather uneventful stay in the hospital.
Single Infusion Eliminates Detectable Myeloma Cells
Researchers needed to measure how well the treatment worked and how long the benefits would last. Bone marrow evaluations before treatment showed a high concentration of myeloma cells, but post-infusion imaging showed a clear change.
“In Carl’s case, his bone marrow before treatment contained a significant amount of myeloma, but a month after treatment, we could no longer detect the myeloma in his bone marrow,” Rezvani said. “Now, two years after only a single infusion, he continues to do extraordinarily well with no detectable cancer cells. His response shows us what may be possible.”
Burgman described the outcome as a miracle after exhausting standard care options. However, clinical trials require extensive data to ensure consistency across diverse patient populations. In July 2026, Rezvani’s team encountered an unexpected obstacle when some undeveloped NK cells in the cord blood accidentally absorbed protein from cancer cells. This caused the engineered cells to mistakenly target healthy tissue.
“When you consider how much treatment he had already been through and how few options remained, seeing him doing so well two years after a single infusion is incredibly exciting. Now, our job as researchers is to understand why it worked so well for him and determine whether we can make that kind of outcome possible for many more patients,” Rezvani said.
To resolve this, researchers implemented a filtration process to remove undeveloped NK cells before manufacturing the therapy. Researchers are testing the treatment to improve its potency before submitting it to the Food and Drug Administration, and are also studying its efficacy against leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumors.
| Parameter | CAR-T Cell Therapy | CAR-NK Cell Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Source | Patient’s own T cells | Donor umbilical cord blood |
| Manufacturing Time | Several weeks (custom) | Immediate (off-the-shelf) |
| Graft-versus-Host Risk | Moderate to high | Significantly lower |
Advocating for Clinical Trial Access
Today, Burgman serves as a support group leader with the International Myeloma Foundation in Tulsa, encouraging newly diagnosed patients to explore clinical trials when standard treatments fail. For patients with refractory blood cancers, clinical trials offer an essential lifeline that advances medical science for future generations.
“I’m forever grateful to the entire team at UT MD Anderson, and for the researchers pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” Burgman said. “I'm grateful for the chance to participate in groundbreaking trials. But mostly, I'm grateful to be here.”
