Mesothelioma Patients Sought for Clinical Trial
Researchers are seeking 40 patients that have confirmed malignant mesothelioma, who are not candidates for surgery or radiation, to test the drug gefitinib. Gefitinib inhibits cellular growth in cancerous cells by targeting the proteins. The trade name for gefitinib is Iressa.
Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. The fibers are either inhaled or swallowed then travel through the body becoming lodged, resulting in cancer decades later. Often called “asbestos cancer,” mesothelioma is resistant to many current treatments. Currently there is no known cure for mesothelioma, and the average survival time varies from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis.
The study, conducted by researchers at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, is a Phase II clinical trial to determine the efficacy of the drug for mesothelioma patients. Currently, the drug is used for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and who have previously been treated with chemotherapy.
Patients involved in the study will receive daily doses of oral gefitinib while being monitored. Clinicians will follow study participants for up to four years.
