Mesothelioma Drugs
New mesothelioma and anti-cancer drugs are constantly being researched and developed. Such drugs are required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to go through extensive clinical trial testing during which their safety and efficacy is monitored.
The patients who choose to participate in these clinical trials typically suffer from a highly advanced type of cancer. Rather than electing to submit to traditional mesothelioma treatments that have proven ineffective in combating the rare asbestos cancer, patients can instead choose from a variety of experimental treatments.
While such experimental treatments are more risk-oriented than traditional treatment modalities, they present cancer patients with a more proactive medium through which to fight to live.
Veglin
Vegin is a new experimental drug manufactured by VasGene Therapeutics, Inc., Veglin is an anti-angiogenesis drug undergoing clinical trials at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. Veglin inhibits VEGF proteins, halting the formation of blood vessels and limiting the ability of tumors to grow and spread. Veglin is an antisense oligonucleotide, meaning that it can bond to messenger RNA (nucleic acid that directs protein production) and block the production of VEGF proteins.
If Veglin is successful in blocking tumor secretion of VEGF proteins, it is believed that it will be capable of preventing metastasis while simultaneously killing existing cancer cells.
Alimta
ALIMTA is now available for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma, a cancer usually associated with exposure to asbestos. As of July 9, 2002 the Food and Drug Administration agreed to place ALIMTA in an expanded access program, which gives patients access to an agent that isn't yet commercially available, although the sponsor is actively pursuing marketing approval. Eli Lilly is pursuing approval of ALIMTA in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a disease that causes tumors to grow in the linings of the lung, or pleura. Patients live an average of six to nine months following diagnosis. The company said results of a Phase III trial showed that patients treated with ALIMTA and cisplatin combined lived longer and had less pain and shortness of breath, than patients treated with cisplatin alone. In the trial, the most common side effect from cisplatin and ALIMTA was a decrease in infection- fighting white blood cells. Under the expanded access program, ALIMTA will be given free of charge to patients who meet medical eligibility requirements.
L-NDDP (aroplatin).
L-NDDP (aroplatin) Intrapleural administration is intended to exceed the usefulness of other platinum drugs like Cisplatin that are limited by toxicity and drug resistance.
Endostatin
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Endostatin has been shown to inhibit a tumor's ability to grow blood vessels without destroying normal healthy cells. Works with angiostatin. Lovastatin. A cholesterol drug shown to potentially inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Intrapleural interferon gamma.
The anti-cancer drug, Interferon Gamma is directly administered into the affected area.
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Cisplatin
Cisplatinis a platinum-based chemotherapy drug used to treat various types of cancers, including sarcomas, some carcinomas, lymphomas, and germ cell tumors. It was the first member of a class of anti-cancer drugs which now also includes carboplatin and oxaliplatin. These platinum complexes react in vivo, binding to and causing crosslinking of DNA which ultimately triggers apoptosis.Cisplatin is administered intravenously as short-term infusion in physiological saline for treatment of solid malignacies. The synthesis of cisplatin is a classic in inorganic chemistry. Starting from potassium tetrachloroplatinate(II), K2[PtCl4], the first NH3 ligand is added to any of the four equivalent positions, but the second NH3 could be added cis or trans to the bound ammine ligand. Because Cl- has a larger trans effect than NH3, the second ammine preferentially substitutes trans to a chloride ligand, and therefore cis to the original ammine. The trans effect of the halides follows the order I->Br->Cl-, therefore the synthesis is conducted using [PtI4]2- to ensure high yield and purity of the cis isomer, followed by conversion of the PtI2(NH3)2 into PtCl2(NH3)2, as first described by Dhara.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org
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