WDTN Dayton news: FDA approves first melanoma cellular therapy

The University of Cincinnati's Trisha Wise-Draper, MD, PhD, spoke with WDTN Dayton to discuss the approval of Amtagvi, the first cellular therapy for metastatic or unresectable melanoma, a harmful skin cancer.

“It’s actually a cellular therapy but its very different than the cellular therapies that are currently available for a lot of the hematologic malignancies,” said Wise-Draper, a University of Cincinnati Cancer Center member, section head of Medical Oncology and professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology in UC’s College of Medicine.

The new therapy is for patients who have exhausted all other options.

“Because of the complicated nature of it, not everyone should get the therapy,” Wise-Draper said. “But for those that are fit and able to undergo the multiple treatments, cause it does require a very large multidisciplinary team.”

Wise-Draper said the Cancer Center's team of multidisciplinary experts will evaluate each patient to see if they are a fit for Amtagvi, since it is extensive.

“It’s really important that we evaluate the patient for feasibility upfront,” she said, “and make sure that’s something they’ll be able to undergo.”

Read the WDTN story.

Featured photo at top of Wise-Draper, left, and Vinita Takiar in their research laboratory. Photo/Colleen Kelley/UC Marketing + Brand