New Drug Shows Promise in Killing Mesothelioma Tumor Cells

There may be help on the horizon for future pleural mesothelioma patients needing an effective, first-line systemic chemotherapy regimen that doesn't exist today. The latest laboratory breakthrough could give them a much better chance at survival. A recently completed study of panobinostat, a new experimental drug, in combination with the standard cisplatin, showed promising results in killing mesothelioma tumor cells without harming the healthy ones, along with eliminating the often troubling side effects. The study, published in Genetics and Molecular Research, was conducted in Ankara, Turkey, at Gazi University. "None of the currently used standard treatments are acceptable for MPM ( malignant pleural mesothelioma). Studies are needed," professor H. Ilke Onen, Ph.D., Department of Medical Biology & Genetics, Gazi University, told Asbestos.com. "But we found promising results for killing [mesothelioma] tumor cells." Still in Early Stages Onen was quick to point out that his findings in the laboratory were just the start of what would be lengthy process in bringing a potential therapy to market, but the initial research was eye-opening and eventually could move the medical community closer to a more effective treatment. Pleural mesothelioma today is typically treated with a FDA-approved chemotherapy combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed, although the response has been far from effective. The majority of mesothe...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Research & Clinical Trials Source Type: news