Highlights:
New drug that melts away cancer cells in a particular type of leukemia called Chronic Lymphocytic leukemia was approved in Australia.
The regulatory body of Australia, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the drug venetoclax for the treatment of stage 4 leukemia.- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a cancer that specifically affects the lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells).
- Venetoclax drug has been approved in Australia for treating Stage 4 chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.
- The drug acts by blocking the BCL-2 (B-Cell lymphoma 2) protein which allows the cancer cells to survive.
Venetoclax
Venetoclax is a BCL-2 (B - cell lymphoma 2) inhibitor which is prescribed for the treatment of a type of white blood cell cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), in patients whose tumor cells lack a part of the 17th chromosome (a specific gene alteration known as 17p deletion). It is prescribed only for patients who received prior treatment for the cancer. Venetoclax mainly acts by inhibiting the action of the BCL-2 protein present in the cancer cells and kills the abnormal lymphocytes which are present in the blood and the bone marrow.
Venetoclax is a BCL-2 (B - cell lymphoma 2) inhibitor which is prescribed for the treatment of a type of white blood cell cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), in patients whose tumor cells lack a part of the 17th chromosome (a specific gene alteration known as 17p deletion). It is prescribed only for patients who received prior treatment for the cancer. Venetoclax mainly acts by inhibiting the action of the BCL-2 protein present in the cancer cells and kills the abnormal lymphocytes which are present in the blood and the bone marrow.
‘Stage 4 chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients in Australia are treated with Venetoclax drug.’
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Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a type of cancer in the bone marrow which leads to the abnormal proliferation of white blood cells (mainly the lymphocytes).B-cell lymphoma protein (BCL-2) enables the cancer cells to survive. Patients who have not responded to the standard treatment are prescribed with venetoclax drug.
Around 70 patients were found to receive venetoclax drug since 2011.
She, added,"Approximately 20% will achieve a complete remission.”
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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common types of adult leukemia and is considered as one of the ‘good cancers’.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common types of adult leukemia and is considered as one of the ‘good cancers’.
Venetoclax drug is a BCL-2 inhibitor drug prescribed for a type of white blood cell cancer known as chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The drug is manufactured by the pharmaceutical company AbbVie.
Mechanism of Action
Venetoclax drug acts by blocking the action of specific protein called BCL-2. The BCL-2 protein was found to be more active in most of the cancer types and particularly in leukemia, said, Professor David Huang.
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'Chemo' means medicine or 'drug', 'therapy' means 'treatment'. Chemotherapy refers to the use of cytotoxic drugs in the treatment of cancer.
- Old age is a risk factor for developing chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
- About 1,000 people are diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia every year in Australia.
- Swollen lymph nodes are the common sign for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
- Blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes are usually diagnosed for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
- Women have a better prognosis for chronic lymphocytic leukemia when compared to men.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) - (http://www.leukaemia.org.au/blood-cancers/leukaemias/chronic-lymphocytic-leukaemia-cll )
- General Information About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia - (https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/patient/cll-treatment-pdq )
- Venetoclax - Drug Information - (https://www.medindia.net/doctors/drug_information/venetoclax.htm )
Source-Medindia
