Genetech recently announced the FDA’s approval of Tecentriq to treat alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) pediatric and adult patients over the age of two.
This first-ever treatment has been developed for patients who have been diagnosed with alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) that has spread and cannot be removed surgically.
ASPS, which is common among young people, spreads slowly but thus far has been impossible to prevent. Treatment options have been limited. An estimated twenty percent will survive five years.
Trial results found that twelve patients (67%) received an objective response of over six months while forty-two percent reported a response of twelve months or more.
Forty-one percent of Tecentriq patients reported severe adverse reactions with over two percent reported to be fatigue, pulmonary hemorrhage, extremity pain, and pneumonia.
ASPS grows slowly and with few noticeable symptoms (asymptomatic) in the early stages. Therefore, most cases are not diagnosed until the disease reaches advanced stages. Treatment is then limited to surgery despite almost certain recurrence.
Approximately eighty ASPS cases, primarily young adults, are diagnosed annually in the U.S.
About Tecentriq
Tecentriq, a monoclonal antibody, is an immune system protein created in the lab. It is designed to bind with PDL1, which is a protein found on tumor cells and on cells that infiltrate tumors.
Tecentriq’s inhibiting of PD-L1 may potentially reactivate T cells that are responsible for guarding against invading disease-causing organisms (pathogens).
Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) is a possible complication of stem cell transplants, especially if donor stem cells are used. These complications are not only serious but may be fatal.
Tecentriq may prompt the immune system to go on the attack against healthy organs and tissues affecting their performance. Again, be aware that these issues may be life-threatening and fatal. They may occur during or after treatment.
A partial list of symptoms includes but are not limited to:
- chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling of ankles
- memory problems, mood or behavior changes, stiff neck
- blurry vision, eye pain, double vision
Genentech biotechnology develops, discovers, and manufactures medicine to treat medical conditions that are life-threatening. The company is headquartered in San Francisco.
