Study: ‘ Drug-Factory ’ Technology Kills Mesothelioma Tumor Cells in Mice

Tiny, drug-producing beads implanted in the chest cavity could one day provide a powerful platform that would change the way mesothelioma cancer is treated. In a recent study, researchers from Rice University and the Baylor College of Medicine demonstrated the implants’ impressive effectiveness in mice, raising hopes of a possible breakthrough for this tough-to-treat cancer. Researchers have already met with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and hope to open a clinical trial to begin testing the procedure’s effectiveness on mesothelioma patients by the second half of 2023. Clinical Cancer Research published the latest study Aug. 22. “There is a lot of work left to be done, but we are definitely excited about the potential and encouraged by the clinical work already done,” Rice University bioengineer Omid Veiseh, whose lab invented the novel technology, told The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “This could shift the paradigm [of treatment].” New Technique Delivers Drugs Directly to Tumors Drug-producing beads, which are no larger than the head of a pin, can be programmed to produce continuous high doses of genetically engineered interleukin-2, a natural compound that activates white blood cells to fight tumors. Researchers have dubbed the process “drug-factory” technology. The FDA already has approved the technology with interleukin-2 for a clinical trial involving ovarian cancer. It is scheduled to open near the end of 20...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Clinical Trials/Research/Emerging Treatments Source Type: news