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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2010

Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Tests VEGF Inhibitor

Southwest Oncology Group and the National Cancer Institute are finalizing the Phase I/Randomized Phase II clinical trial “Pemetrexed Disodium and Cisplatin With or Without Cediranib Maleate in Treating Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.” The trial studied the side effects and best dose of cediranib maleate when given together with pemetrexed disodium and cisplatin.

Cediranib is a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor for the treatment of cancer. The medicine binds to and inhibits all three vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF-1,-2,-3) tyrosine kinases, thereby blocking VEGF-signaling, angiogenesis, and tumor cell growth.

The rationale for the trial states that cediranib maleate may stop the growth of mesothelioma tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor. The researchers hope that by giving pemetrexed disodium and cisplatin together with cediranib maleate more tumor cells will be killed.

Often called “asbestos cancer,” mesothelioma is highly aggressive and is resistant to many standard cancer treatments. Currently there is no known cure for mesothelioma, and the average survival time varies from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis.

This study is not yet open for participant recruitment.

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Nancy Meredith is a blog and web content writer with more than 20 years of professional experience in the Information Technology industry. She has been writing about Mesothelioma for 4 years. Follow Nancy on Google+