Sarcoma UK welcomes news today of a major advancement for cancer treatment as a new therapy that reprogrammes a patient’s own immune cells to recognise and target their cancer has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This innovative new treatment, known as Tecelra® (afamitresgene autoleucel), is the first new treatment for synovial sarcoma in over a decade and offers new hope for patients with this rare and aggressive sarcoma subtype. Synovial sarcomas are so rare they account for less than 0.1% of all cancer diagnoses in the UK.
Tecelra, developed by Adaptimmune Therapeutics, represents a significant leap forward in cancer therapy. Here’s what makes it special:
- It’s the first engineered cell therapy for a solid tumour cancer approved in the U.S.
- It reprogrammes a patient’s own immune cells to recognise and target their cancer cells
- It is designed to focus on a specific marker (MAGE-A4) found in synovial sarcoma and other solid tumours
- Clinical trials showed promising results, with 43% of patients responding to the treatment
- For some patients, the benefits lasted a year or more
The approval is based on a clinical trial involving 44 patients, where Tecelra demonstrated an overall response rate of 43% and a complete response rate of 4.5%.
Dr Sorrel Bickley, Research Director of Sarcoma UK, said: “This approval marks a huge milestone for people with synovial sarcoma. For years, treatment options have been limited, and this new therapy offers fresh hope to those facing this challenging diagnosis.”
Two give their personal perspective
Sam Sheppard – who lost her daughter Isobel to synovial sarcoma when she was just 15 – welcomed the new treatment. In January 2020, Izzy, then aged 12, suddenly struggled to walk. After two weeks in hospital, she was diagnosed with a synovial sarcoma in her groin. Izzy had chemotherapy and her leg was amputated. Over two years later, in October 2022, Izzy was enjoying life and preparing to sit her GCSEs when she unexpectedly suffered a brain bleed. Tragically, the cancer had returned; this time, it had spread to her brain, lungs, kidney and adrenal gland. Izzy died aged just 15 in December 2022. Sam said: “As someone who lost a wonderful daughter to synovial sarcoma, I cannot overstate how crucial new therapies like Tecelra are. The treatments Izzy received failed to stop this cancer from taking her life. This new therapy brings hope for all synovial sarcoma patients who are running out of options. I’m heartened to know that future patients might have access to more effective treatments. I urge healthcare authorities to work swiftly to make innovative treatments like Tecelra available in the UK. Every day counts when you’re battling a rare and aggressive cancer like synovial sarcoma.”
Darrell McDonald – a 44-year-old father of two from Twickenham living with terminal synovial sarcoma – emphasises the critical importance of new treatments for this rare cancer. He said: “This type of treatment, using my own immune cells to target the cancer, hasn’t been available to me before. I’ve been hoping the landscape would change as new developments are made. The approval of Tecelra brings hope not just for me, but for all synovial sarcoma patients who are running out of options. I’m heartened to know that future patients might have access to more innovative treatments. I urge healthcare authorities to work swiftly to make treatments like Tecelra available in the UK. Every advancement counts when you’re battling a rare and aggressive cancer like synovial sarcoma.”
What this means for UK patients
While the news is encouraging, Dr Bickley notes that access to Tecelra in the UK may take time. She says: “The treatment is currently approved in the United States for adults with unresectable or metastatic synovial sarcoma who have received prior chemotherapy and meet specific genetic criteria. Also, the European approval processes differ, and it’s unclear when Tecelra might become available in the UK. However, we are actively seeking information from Adaptimmune about their plans for UK access.”
Dr Bickley added: “We’re cautiously optimistic about Tecelra’s potential to help synovial sarcoma patients in the UK. While we may face a wait, this approval demonstrates that progress is possible in treating rare cancers. It’s important to note that Tecelra can cause serious side-effects, and patients will need to undergo specific biomarker tests before treatment. However, for a cancer that often affects young adults and has limited treatment options, this new therapy offers a much-needed source of hope.”
Sarcoma UK remains committed to supporting patients and funding research into better treatments for all types of sarcoma. For more information about synovial sarcoma and available support, please visit https://sarcoma.org.uk/about-sarcoma/what-is-sarcoma/types-of-sarcoma/synovial-sarcoma/
