The traveling photography exhibition “Da qui in avanti” has arrived in Rome to showcase the recovery journeys of six hematological cancer patients treated with CAR-T cell therapy. The exhibition brings visibility to advanced blood cancer treatments six years after their introduction to Italian medicine.
Exhibition Launch and Institutional Support in Rome
The Italian exhibition project "From here on out" ("From here on") opened in Rome to document the personal impacts of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies. It operates under the patronage of the Italian Association against Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma (AIL) and the non-profit organization La Lampada di Aladino Ets. The display highlights the emotional and physical realities of patients who received diagnoses of aggressive blood cancers and subsequently underwent advanced cellular therapies.
Clinical Background at Policlinico Gemelli
The exhibition features the personal accounts of patients treated at the policlinico universitario Agostino Gemelli Irccs in Rome. According to institutional notes, the complex operating unit of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation at Policlinico Gemelli has maintained authorization and accreditation to administer CAR-T cell procedures since 2019. Clinicians at the facility have administered the specialized treatment to approximately 240 patients to date. The facility manages complex oncohematological conditions such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Patient Journeys: Aurelia and Luigi
Among the six featured stories are those of Aurelia and Luigi, both treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia at Policlinico Gemelli. Aurelia, diagnosed in 2016 after experiencing unusual fatigue, is now 50 years old and endured multiple hospitalizations, chemotherapy cycles, and a transplant. When standard interventions failed five years ago, she qualified for CAR-T cell therapy. Today, she reports successful recovery alongside her parents, Alberto and Agnese. Luigi, originally from Isola di Capo Rizzuto, developed persistent high fevers in 2020. Following unsuccessful chemotherapy regimens that spanned years of travel between Isola di Capo Rizzuto and Rome, he received CAR-T cell therapy on February 19, 2024. The procedure successfully halted the progression of his disease, allowing him to return to daily life at age 32 with the ongoing support of his brother, Ernesto.
Artistic Framework and Public Awareness
The exhibition utilizes photography, light, and color to illustrate the psychological and physical transitions associated with severe hematological diagnoses. Organizers designed the physical installation to travel across Italy, capturing the landscapes of patients’ home regions alongside the clinical environments where their treatments took place. By pairing visual art with clinical milestones, the sponsoring organizations aim to build broader public awareness regarding cellular immunotherapies and offer a distinct perspective on long-term survivorship for patients facing advanced blood cancers.
Worth a look