Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia

New Blood Cancer Drug Shows Promising Results in Clinical Trial

by Dr. Trupti Shirole on Nov 14 2015 7:26 AM

 New Blood Cancer Drug Shows Promising Results in Clinical Trial
Some blood cancer patients are resistant to current chemotherapy. A new drug can help such patients lead a normal and active life, revealed a new study.
One of the lead researchers Harriet Walter from University of Leicester in Britain said, "These patients were confronted with a cruel reality: they had failed multiple chemotherapy lines and there were no other treatment options available for them. This drug has changed patients' lives; from desperate and tired they are now leading a normal and really active life. This is hugely rewarding and encouraging."

This clinical trial looked at the efficacy of a new drug called 'ONO/GS-4059' in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-hodgkin lymphoma patients resistant to current chemotherapies. The new drug targets BTK, a protein essential for the survival and proliferation of the tumor cells.

This study opened in January 2012 and 90 patients were enrolled in different centers in Britain and in France. Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia showed the best response and most of them are still on the study after three years, and remarkably without notable toxicities.

Nigel Rose, chief executive of cancer research charity Hope Against Cancer, said, "The next step is now to see how best we can improve on these outstanding results. A further study using this drug in combination with additional targeted agents is shortly to open in Leicester with the aim of achieving cure."

The study was published in Blood.

Source-IANS


Advertisement