Cancer researchers at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas have teamed up with Novartis, a well-known pharmaceutical company, to test the effects of Cisplatin, Pemetrexed and Imatinib Mesylate (a drug that “turns off” the protein signals that cause cancer within the body) on tumors. Researchers will be analyzing tumor tissue using non-invasive assessments and attempting to measure the rate of response in mesothelioma patients as it relates to all three drugs.
Researchers hope to discover the highest dose of the combination of Cisplatin, Pemetrexed, and Imatinib Mesylate that is endurable by patients over a period of about 2 years, with special attention paid to the safety and overall effectiveness of this drug trio.
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center officials are seeking patients with malignant mesothelioma cancer that are 18 years or older. On a daily basis, participants will be given a 60 milligram dose of Cisplatin, administered over a 2 hour period, a 500 milligram dose of Pemetrexed administered over a 40 minute period, along with one 300 milligram dose of Imatinib Mesylate.
Cisplatin is a well-known chemotherapy drug that triggers a process known as apoptosis, or “programmed cell death” (PCD). Cisplatin is administered intravenously and is used to treat various types of cancer. Pemetrexed, also known as Alimta, is comparable to folic acid and restricts the actions of three particular enzymes to prevent further growth of cancerous cells. Imatinib Mesylate (marketed by Novartis) is a drug that inhibits tyrosine kinase enzymes, which aid in the process of signal transduction and overall enzyme activity.
Patients with advanced malignant mesothelioma cancer who would like more information about this clinical trial should contact Dr. Anne S. Tsao at M.D. Cancer Center at 713-792-6363. The identifier for this particular trial is NCT00402766.
Mesothelioma.com encourages mesothelioma sufferers to discuss this and all clinical trials with their oncologist to determine whether or not they may benefit from participating.
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