Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Muskan Arora
Researchers at Queen Mary University London have unveiled a groundbreaking treatment for a lethal form of cancer, marking a significant advancement in medical science, said a study published in journal JAMA Oncology.
The newly developed drug, ADI-PEG20, has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in treating mesothelioma, a highly aggressive cancer primarily linked to asbestos exposure.
A comprehensive international trial involving patients from five countries revealed that the new treatment quadrupled three-year survival rates, offering hope to those diagnosed with the challenging disease.
ADI-PEG20 operates by disrupting the cancerous tumour's access to essential nutrients, thereby impeding its growth and progression.
This breakthrough marks the first successful combination of chemotherapy with a metabolic-targeting drug for mesothelioma in over 20 years, representing a significant milestone in cancer research.
Conducted over a span of four years at 43 medical centers worldwide, the ATOMIC-meso trial involved 249 patients with pleural mesothelioma. Results indicated a notable increase in median overall survival and progression-free survival rates among those treated with ADI-PEG20 in conjunction with chemotherapy.
Patients receiving the new drug in combination with chemotherapy exhibited an average survival of 9.3 months, compared to 7.7 months for those receiving a placebo alongside chemotherapy, underscoring the efficacy of the treatment.
Professor Peter Szlosarek, the lead researcher behind the development of ADI-PEG20, expressed optimism about the transformative impact of the new treatment, emphasizing its potential to improve the lives of individuals affected by mesothelioma.