biostudies-literatureHong DSNCATS NIH HHSNCI NIH HHS104-114https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9873554biostudies-literatureUnknown29(1)Affinity-optimized T cell receptors can enhance the potency of adoptive T cell therapy. Afamitresgene autoleucel (afami-cel) is a human leukocyte antigen-restricted autologous T cell therapy targeting melanoma-associated antigen A4 (MAGE-A4), a cancer/testis antigen expressed at varying levels in multiple solid tumors. We conducted a multicenter, dose-escalation, phase 1 trial in patients with relapsed/refractory metastatic solid tumors expressing MAGE-A4, including synovial sarcoma (SS), ovarian cancer and head and neck cancer ( NCT03132922 ). The primary endpoint was safety, and the secondary efficacy endpoints included overall response rate (ORR) and duration of response. All patients (N = 38, nine tumor types) experienced Grade ≥3 hematologic toxicities; 55% of patients (90% Grade ≤2) experienced cytokine release syndrome. ORR (all partial response) was 24% (9/38), 7/16 (44%) for SS and 2/22 (9%) for all other cancers. Median duration of response was 25.6 weeks (95% confidence interval (CI): 12.286, not reached) and 28.1 weeks (95% CI: 12.286, not reached) overall and for SS, respectively. Exploratory analyses showed that afami-cel infiltrates tumors, has an interferon-γ-driven mechanism of action and triggers adaptive immune responses. In addition, afami-cel has an acceptable benefit-risk profile, with early and durable responses, especially in patients with metastatic SS. Although the small trial size limits conclusions that can be drawn, the results warrant further testing in larger studies.Nature medicineAutologous T cell therapy for MAGE-A4⁺ solid cancers in HLA-A*02⁺ patients: a phase 1 trial.PMC9873554P30 CA016058P30 CA016672UL1 TR003167P30 CA014236Fracasso PMJohnson MLLin QWolchinsky ZBiswas SSun AButler MOKebriaei PNavenot JMWilliams DCashen ALiebner DABlumenschein GROlszanski AJNorry ERafail SWang RSanderson JPIsabelle MOdunsi KBetts GBai JVan Tine BAGrand'Maison AMcAlpine CBatrakou DGBushman FDMcCarthy PHong DSFernandes LBath NTipping AJClarke JMTrivedi TAnnareddy TAraujo DDruta MBroad RKaradeniz DNaidoo RGhobadi AVan Winkle EElefant EEverett JKfalseAutologous T cell therapy for MAGE-A4⁺ solid cancers in HLA-A*02⁺ patients: a phase 1 trial.Affinity-optimized T cell receptors can enhance the potency of adoptive T cell therapy. Afamitresgene autoleucel (afami-cel) is a human leukocyte antigen-restricted autologous T cell therapy targeting melanoma-associated antigen A4 (MAGE-A4), a cancer/testis antigen expressed at varying levels in multiple solid tumors. We conducted a multicenter, dose-escalation, phase 1 trial in patients with relapsed/refractory metastatic solid tumors expressing MAGE-A4, including synovial sarcoma (SS), ovarian cancer and head and neck cancer ( NCT03132922 ). The primary endpoint was safety, and the secondary efficacy endpoints included overall response rate (ORR) and duration of response. All patients (N = 38, nine tumor types) experienced Grade ≥3 hematologic toxicities; 55% of patients (90% Grade ≤2) experienced cytokine release syndrome. ORR (all partial response) was 24% (9/38), 7/16 (44%) for SS and 2/22 (9%) for all other cancers. Median duration of response was 25.6 weeks (95% confidence interval (CI): 12.286, not reached) and 28.1 weeks (95% CI: 12.286, not reached) overall and for SS, respectively. Exploratory analyses showed that afami-cel infiltrates tumors, has an interferon-γ-driven mechanism of action and triggers adaptive immune responses. In addition, afami-cel has an acceptable benefit-risk profile, with early and durable responses, especially in patients with metastatic SS. Although the small trial size limits conclusions that can be drawn, the results warrant further testing in larger studies.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2026-05-10T06:54:15.276Z2025-04-07T03:19:19.706ZS-EPMC98735543662431510.1038/s41591-022-02128-z