Researchers in California and Pennsylvania are conducting a clinical trial in mesothelioma research clinics to see if the drug PXD101 offers an effective form of treatment for mesothelioma patients. It is hypothesized that PXD101 may disrupt blood flow to tumors and deter some of the enzymes required for cell growth in the tumors of patients with malignant mesothelioma - a rare but fatal lung cancer.
Traditional mesothelioma treatments have varying degrees of effectiveness, and can often cause system-wide illness, sickness and damage due to the techniques used.
Researches leading this study will seek patients diagnosed with the disease from
mesothelioma clinics and the public to ascertain both the average level of response that patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma show to PXD101 as well as what potential side affects the drug may bring about as compared to traditional treatments for mesothelioma.
The official title of this study is "Phase II Study of PXD 101 (NSC 726630) as Second-Line Therapy for Treatment of Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma." The Study Chair for this clinical mesothelioma trial is Suresh Ramalingam, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh.
For further information about this Phase II clinical trial, please click on the following link to visit ClinicalTrials.gov:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00365053?order=21
Mesothelioma is a cancer in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma) or in the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), Although traditionally mesothelioma is a rare in the general population, it is often found in people who were exposed to Asbestos, and the numbers of people coming forth and being diagnosed with the disease is on the rise. In fact, in the United States, Asbestos is the only confirmed cause of mesothelioma. Ongoing studies worldwide at
mesothelioma research clinics aim to find a new treatment for the fatal cancer.
Mesothelioma usually develops years after an initial expose to Asbestos. Indeed, the latency period can range from ten to fifty years. For this reason, people diagnosed and starting treatment for mesothelioma may be shocked to learn that a short-term exposure to Asbestos years ago is the source of their present-day affliction.
