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  • Home > Blog > Featured Story > Clinical Trial of Novel Cancer Agent for Lung Cancer Patients May Prove Effectiveness of Drug for Mesothelioma Patients
Posted on Friday, Jan 7, 2011

Clinical Trial of Novel Cancer Agent for Lung Cancer Patients May Prove Effectiveness of Drug for Mesothelioma Patients

by Nancy Meredith
Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs, is highly aggressive and is resistant to many standard cancer treatments making it a difficult disease to treat effectively. As a result, continued research is critical to find a cure or new treatment options for the close to 3,000 Americans diagnosed with the disease yearly. 

Although some physicians believe mesothelioma is chemo-resistant, chemotherapy continues to be one of the primary treatment protocols for the disease.  Currently, the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin is one of the most common chemotherapy treatments for mesothelioma patients.  Pharmaceutical companies continue to test new anti-cancer agents, and one in a new clinical trial shows promise for mesothelioma and lung cancer patients.

Belinostat Clinical Trial
Topotarget, a Scandinavian based oncology company dedicated to improving the quality of life and prolonging the life of cancer patients by offering safe and effective cancer drugs, has just announced the start of their Phase I/II trial of the drug belinostat. 

The primary objective of the study is “to evaluate the safety of belinostat in combination with Tarceva (erlotinib) and to generate efficacy data in terms of progression-free survival, response rate and overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC.)”

Belinostat is being investigated for its role in the treatment of a wide range of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies either as a single-agent, or in combination with other active anti-cancer agents.

New Class of Anti-Cancer Drug
Known as a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor (HDI), belinostat is part of a new class of anti-cancer therapeutics, according to TopoTarget, that have been shown to arrest growth of cancer cells (including drug resistant subtypes); induce apoptosis, (programmed cell death); promote differentiation; inhibit angiogenesis; and sensitize cancer cells to overcome drug resistance when used in combination with other anti-cancer agents.

Tarceva, from Genentech, is a targeted cancer treatment in pill form prescribed for NSCLC patients who have received initial treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine and cisplatin, and whose tumor has not spread or grown during the initial treatment.

A previous phase II study conducted by researchers at Emory University School of Medicine found that while belinostat is not effective as a single agent treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma, research with combination strategies or alternate dosing of the drug should be conducted to determine use of this agent in the treatment of mesothelioma.