3 of 70
nationwide sarcoma experts work at Holden
UI Health Care begins treating patients with innovative TCR therapy
New, FDA-approved treatment brings hope for Iowans living with synovial sarcoma
Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a T lymphocyte. Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health
University of Iowa Health Care Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center has begun treating its first patient with T-cell receptor therapy, an innovative treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to fight synovial sarcoma — a rare and aggressive cancer. This cellular therapy, called afamitresgene autoleucel, or afami-cel (Tecelra), is the first FDA-approved T-cell receptor (TCR) therapy for cancer, and the first drug approved specifically for synovial sarcoma.
"These cancers have historically been very hard to treat...But with advancements in TCR therapy, we finally have a treatment that can change the outlook for patients."
Gustavo Godoy-Almeida, MD, PhD
medical oncologist at Holden
What is synovial sarcoma?
Synovial sarcoma is a rare type of soft tissue cancer that often develops near joints, such as the knee or ankle, but can occur anywhere in the body. For decades, treatment options were limited to chemotherapy and targeted drugs, neither of which offered long-term success. As a result, the average survival rate was about 14 to 15 months for patients with synovial sarcoma.
“These cancers have historically been very hard to treat. Once the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it can’t be cured, which is heartbreaking for families — especially because these patients are often young and have small children,” says Gustavo Godoy-Almeida, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist at Holden. “But with advancements in TCR therapy, we finally have a treatment that can change the outlook for patients.”
How T-cell receptor therapy works
T-cell receptor therapy reprograms a patient’s own T-cells — a type of white blood cell — to recognize and attack cancer cells. As a form of adoptive cell therapy, the process begins by collecting T-cells from a patient's blood and modifying them to target a specific protein found in synovial sarcoma called MAGE-A4. These enhanced cells are then infused back into the patient, giving their immune system the boost it needs to fight cancer.
Promising results
In a national clinical trial — for which UI Health Care was a participating medical center — 19 of the 44 patients with synovial sarcoma experienced tumor shrinkage after treatment. Two of those patients saw their tumors disappear completely and remained gone throughout the three-year study. Among these 19 patients whose tumors responded to therapy, researchers estimated a 70% chance of being alive two years later.
“For the first time, we can talk about the possibility of long-term survival,” Godoy-Almeida says. “That was not possible with chemotherapy or other targeted therapies.”
A commitment to advanced cancer care
As Iowa’s only comprehensive cancer center, Holden offers access to the most advanced treatment options for synovial sarcoma. It is also home to some of the nation’s only oncologists who specialize in sarcomas — three of the 70 specialists nationwide work at Holden. This expertise, combined with cutting-edge therapies and clinical trial opportunities, means patients receive the highest level of cancer care without leaving the state.
“Patients don’t need to travel outside the state to access advanced cancer care,” Godoy-Almeida says. “We have the specialized knowledge and innovative treatments to save lives right here in Iowa.”