Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Tecelra (afamitresgene autoleucel), a gene therapy indicated for the treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic synovial sarcoma who have received prior chemotherapy, are HLA antigen(s) A*02:01P, -A*02:02P, -A*02:03P, or -A*02:06P positive, and whose tumor expresses the MAGE-A4 antigen as determined by FDA authorized companion diagnostic devices.
Synovial sarcoma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant cells develop and form a tumor in soft tissues of the body. This type of cancer can occur in many parts of the body, most commonly developing in the extremities. The cancerous cells may also spread to other parts of the body. Each year, synovial sarcoma impacts about 1,000 people in the U.S. and most often occurs in adult males in their 30s or younger. Treatment typically involves surgery to remove the tumor and may also include radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy if the tumor is larger, returns after being removed or has spread beyond its original location.
