Top Moffitt Cancer Center Research Stories of 2024
Moffitt Cancer Center stands as Florida’s sole National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center, recognized for its groundbreaking research and commitment to advancing cancer care.
With a mission centered on the prevention and cure of cancer, Moffitt Cancer Center is dedicated to transforming innovative discoveries into new standards of care that directly benefit patients. This unique institution not only excels in scientific research but also emphasizes community outreach and education, ensuring that its advancements reach those who need them most.
“Reflecting on the groundbreaking research of 2024 at Moffitt Cancer Center. From innovative treatments to breakthrough discoveries, we continue to push boundaries in cancer care. Excited for what’s to come in 2025.” – said Patrick Hwu, CEO and President of Moffitt Cancer Center
Here are Top Moffitt Cancer Center Research Stories of 2024
TIL Therapy Approved for Metastatic Melanoma
A first-of-its-kind cellular immunotherapy pioneered at Moffitt now available for patients with advanced melanoma. It’s called TIL, short for tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy. The one-time T-cell therapy infusion uses a patient’s own immune cells to fight their cancer. It’s the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of a cell therapy for solid tumors.
FDA Approves New Gene Therapy for Synovial Sarcoma
A new, innovative gene therapy is now available for patients with metastatic synovial sarcoma, a rare cancer that forms in the body’s soft tissues, such as muscles and ligaments. The FDA approved Tecelra (afamitresgene autoleucel), making it the first engineered T-cell receptor (TCR) therapy approved for a solid tumor. Tecelra, an autologous T-cell immunotherapy, uses a patient’s own T cells, which are genetically modified to target the MAGE-A4 antigen in synovial sarcoma cells. Moffitt participated in the clinical trials, and the results have been promising.
Moffitt Develops First Individualized Predictive Model for Multiple Myeloma Treatment
Multiple myeloma remains challenging to treat. New therapeutic advances have improved outcomes, but selecting the right treatment for a patient can be complex because the disease can vary drastically from person to person. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Moffitt researchers in collaboration with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and groups around the world share results from a novel model that can provide tailored predictions of how individual patients respond to different therapies.
Genomic Classification and Individualized Prognosis in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Francesco Maura et al.
Moffitt Treats First Clinical Trial Patient with Gamma Delta CAR T for Bone Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Moffitt treated its first patient in an investigator-initiated, phase 1 clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy for prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bone. Roughly 90% of men with advanced prostate cancer will develop bone metastases. The disease significantly impacts patients, causing extreme bone pain.
Moffitt Study Reveals Promising Combination Therapy for Bladder Cancer
Moffitt researchers discovered a new treatment combination that shows promise for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who cannot receive standard-of-care cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The study, published in Nature Medicine, demonstrates that this innovative approach is both safe and efficacious.
Oncolytic immunotherapy with nivolumab in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a phase 1b trial
Authors: Roger Li et al.
Moffitt Initiates Groundbreaking Clinical Trial with Oncolytic Virus for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Moffitt launched a pioneering clinical trial for patients with late-stage non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has progressed following initial frontline standard of care immunotherapy that includes an immune checkpoint inhibitor alone or combined with chemotherapy. The innovative trial uses a novel oncolytic virus, MEM-288, in combination with the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab.
Moffitt Researchers Develop New Chemical Method to Enhance Drug Discovery
Moffitt researchers have developed a novel reagent that enhances the precision of drug synthesis. This innovative method, published in Nature Communications, introduces a new sulfur fluoride exchange (SuFEx) reagent that allows for highly controlled production of crucial sulfur-based molecules, including sulfinamides, sulfonimidamides and sulfoximines.
Authors: Paresh R. Athawale et al.
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ESMO 2024 Congress
September 13-17, 2024
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ASCO Annual Meeting
May 30 - June 4, 2024
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Yvonne Award 2024
May 31, 2024
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OncoThon 2024, Online
Feb. 15, 2024
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Global Summit on War & Cancer 2023, Online
Dec. 14-16, 2023