New Cancer Drug Quadruples Survival Rates in Mesothelioma Patients
Researchers in London Develop Groundbreaking Treatment
Published 17:29 15 Feb 2024, Updated 18:07 15 Feb 2024
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have unveiled a major breakthrough in the treatment of mesothelioma, an aggressive and hard-to-treat form of cancer. Their new drug has shown remarkable results, quadrupling three-year survival rates and extending the average survival time by 1.6 months.
New Drug Targets Tumor’s Food Supply
Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lining of various organs, primarily the lungs, and is usually linked to asbestos exposure. The drug developed by the London researchers works by cutting off the tumor’s food supply, a new and groundbreaking approach in the treatment of the disease. The drug is the first of its kind for mesothelioma in 20 years, marking a significant milestone in cancer research.
Significant Improvement in Survival Rates
In a study involving 249 patients with pleural mesothelioma, chemotherapy in combination with the new drug, ADI-PEG20 (pegargiminase), resulted in an average survival time of 9.3 months. In comparison, patients who received a placebo alongside chemotherapy survived for an average of 7.7 months. The research also revealed a quadrupled survival rate at three years for patients on the new treatment. These findings represent a major breakthrough and offer hope for mesothelioma patients worldwide.
Lead researcher Professor Peter Szlosarek expressed his excitement about the results, stating, “It’s truly wonderful to see the research into the arginine starvation of cancer cells come to fruition. This discovery is something I have been driving from its earliest stages in the lab.” The successful development of this drug is a testament to the power of discovery research in uncovering vulnerabilities in cancer cells.
Future Prospects and Patient Hope
Scientists and medical professionals are lauding the results of the study, which offer a much-needed treatment option for mesothelioma patients. Dr. Tayyaba Jiwani of Cancer Research UK, which funded the early stages of the research, emphasized the importance of discovery research in developing targeted treatments. Liz Darlison, CEO of the charity Mesothelioma UK, expressed pride in the study’s achievements and hopes for wider adoption of the new treatment.
As mesothelioma is a highly challenging cancer to treat, this breakthrough provides significant hope for patients and their families. The research findings pave the way for further advancements in cancer treatment and highlight the potential of targeted therapies.
