A recent International study conducted by the Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Group at Imperial College, located in London, states that some patients with lung-related cancers, including mesothelioma, may benefit from a new drug called Iressa, a “targeted” treatment in pill form that may replace additional rounds of chemotherapy. Iressa is formulated to attack specified growth receptors, found on cancer cells.
Dr. Michael Seckl, head of the Lung Cancer Group, did not participate in the study, but did say that Iressa may become “another drug in our armory” and stated that the results in study participants were “dramatic.” Patients taking Iressa survived for about 7 months, while those receiving chemo survived for about 8. After one year, 32% of patients taking Iressa had survived, versus 34% of those who underwent several rounds of chemo.
Lung-related cancers kill approximately 1.4 million Americans each year, and the treatment options for those suffering from a lung-related cancer are very limited. The vast majority of sufferers lose their battle with lung-related cancer in less than 2 years following their initial diagnosis.
In the case of mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, the outlook for new patients is exceptionally grim, as there is no cure for this disease. Doctors generally recommend surgery to remove tumors and follow that up with several rounds of chemotherapy, but mesothelioma treatment options are only a means of controlling symptoms and pain for a temporary amount of time. Mesothelioma is especially aggressive and is also very painful, and because it has a latency period of as many as 50 years, patients are often well into their seventies when they are diagnosed.
Iressa, according to researchers, could replace additional rounds of chemotherapy, providing patients with respite from the terrible chemo side effects. The side effects of Iressa are “rash, acne and diarrhea,” but patients taking the pill will not experience hair loss or higher risk of dangerous infection, two of the most serious and worrisome side effects of chemotherapy.
Iressa is approved here in the United States for patients who do not respond to chemotherapy, and according to its manufacturer, AstraZeneca, Iressa is most effective in patients who do not have a history of smoking cigarettes, women, and those of Asian descent.
Dr. Seckl said that he had seen patients “live years” on Iressa, and Chris Twelves, a professor at Leeds University, said that “patients on (Iressa) get a higher quality of life.”
Patients who wish to try Iressa should be aware, however, that Iressa costs several thousands of dollars each month, far more than traditional chemotherapy treatments.
The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center encourages patients suffering from lung-related cancers to speak with doctor about Iressa during the month of November, which has been designated Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center is accredited by the Health On The Net Foundation as a reliable source of medical information, and is a trusted Internet resource for mesothelioma information.
