United States: A new treatment which is now available and easy for a rare type of the cancer called synovial sarcoma, which most oftenly affects the young men. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has already given the special approval to a drug which is called Tecelra (afamitregene Autoleuecel) to specifically help to treat this cancer.
As reported by HealthDay, Synovial sarcoma is a rare cancer that develops in the muscles and ligaments, usually in the arms and legs. It’s diagnosed in fewer than 1,000 people each year in the United States, and it most commonly occurs in men in their 30s or younger.
Until now, treatment for this cancer usually includes surgery to remove the tumor and unnecessary clots followed by radiation or chemotherapy. But these methods often struggled to control the disease, especially once it spread to other parts of the body.
What’s New About Tecelra?
Tecelra is the first lab-made immune cell therapy approved by the FDA for a solid tumour cancer like synovial sarcoma. It works by using a person’s own immune cells, which are taken from their body and changed in a lab to help them better find and attack cancer related cells.
The approval and the acceptance of this was based on a clinical trial with 52 people who had synovial sarcoma, or another similar cancer called MRCLS (myxoid/round cell liposarcoma). The trial showed that nearly 37% of patients who received Tecelra had their tumours shrink after just one dose. For those with synovial sarcoma, the treatment worked for an average of almost 12 months.
Why This Matters
Dr. Sandra D’Angelo who is a specialist in this particular type of cancer, says that this new therapy gives hope to patients who have run out of other treatment options. She believes Tecelra is an important step forward in finding new treatments for solid tumours.
Side Effects and Risks
Some patients did experience side effects from the treatment, with about 71% developing something called cytokine release syndrome. This happens when the immune system temporarily goes into overdrive to fight cancer. However, in most cases, the side effects were not severe.
Dr. Nicole Verdun from the FDA stated that this approval is a big milestone in creating a safe and most effective therapy for patients with this rare and potentially deadly disease.