UT Medical Center is the first in Tennessee to offer a newly FDA-approved melanoma treatment.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Melanoma represents only 1% of skin cancers, but it is the deadliest. Now there is a new treatment that could save lives.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a treatment for rare and aggressive cancers, and it is offered at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

“FDA approval for any therapy means it can be more widely given to patients who need this type of treatment,” said Dr. Kelly McCaul, director of the cellular therapy program at UT Medical Center.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, or TILS therapy, has been approved to treat metastatic melanoma.

“It has been recognized for many decades that our immune system can attack cancer cells,” McCaul said. “And so what we do is harvest this component of our immune system, the T cells from a tumor mass, purify it, expand it, and then give it back to a patient so that it can have an anti-cancer effect “

This therapy is intended for patients whose cancer does not respond to other treatments.

“For our patient, Charles Kelly, his melanoma progressed after he had his first immunotherapy. And his disease grew in many parts of his body, inside the liver and other parts,” said the Dr Renju Raj, transplant and cell specialist. therapeutic doctor.

Charles Lloyd Kelly was part of the clinical trials. He said he was diagnosed with melanoma in 2022 and TILS therapy helped him.

“I was stage four metastatic, I started in the leg and went to the liver, lungs and ribs,” Kelly said. “Now that’s all gone down a lot. Except I have one that’s still a little hateful, but we’re working on it.”

UT Medical Center is currently the only hospital in Tennessee offering this type of therapy.

“We’re integrating these new therapies that ancient residents of this area would have had to travel several hundred miles to receive,” said Josh Hickman, director of the cell transplant program.

Kelly said he recommends therapy if someone is eligible.

“Definitely need to investigate, you know, ask your doctors about this,” Kelly said. “Because, like I said, this place is great. Especially on the fifth floor, the team up there. They treat you good, you know, they really take care of you.”

Kelly said he feels great and has even gained weight since going to therapy last October.