A new immunotherapy has been approved to treat synovial sarcoma A person’s own immune cells are genetically modified to find and attack cancer cells more readily Nearly 37% of patients saw their tumors shrink following treatment WEDNESDAY, Aug. 7, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A new is now available to treat a rare soft tissue cancer that most frequently occurs in young men. The U.
S. Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval to Tecelra (afamitresgene autoleuecel) to treat synovial sarcoma, which most commonly develops in the muscles and ligaments of the arms and legs. Tecelra is the first lab-engineered immune cell therapy to receive FDA approval for a solid tumor cancer, the researchers noted.
It’s made by Adaptimmune, a pharmaceutical company located in Philadelphia, which funded the clinical trials that led to approval. “This treatment offers an important new option for people with this rare cancer,” said lead researcher , a sarcoma specialist and immunotherapy expert with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. “It is also an important step forward in the development of T-cell therapies for solid tumors, which has been a major challenge.
” Synovial sarcoma is diagnosed in fewer than 1,000 people in the United States every year, the FDA said. It most often occurs in men in their 30s or younger. Up to now, treatment has typically involved surgery to remove the tumor, followed by radiation or chemotherapy.
“Sarcoma in general, and.