According to clinical trial data presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Chicago, a drug previously approved for the maintenance treatment of other recurrent cancers has reduced the risk of death or progression in patients with mesothelioma by 27%. The drug, Zejula (niraparib), is part of the NERO study being sponsored by the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom.
Mesothelioma Drug Offers Extended Progression-Free Survival
The current standard of care (SOC) for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma is a multi-modality treatment approach that includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. The study showed that the progression-free survival of patients treated with Zejula was 1.5 months longer than those treated using SOC, decreasing the risk of cancer progressing or death by 27%.
Speaking of the results, director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit Professor Gareth Griffiths said, “Although this increase may seem small, for this group of patients who have very few treatment options and a generally poor prognosis, this is a significant step forward. We have shown for the first time that this kind of drug can improve progression-free survival for mesothelioma patients compared with the usual treatment in the NHS. This gives enormous hope to those patients and their families and means we can now carry out further research to find out more about how these treatments could be tailored and enhanced to stimulate an even better response in more people.”
Researchers Move on to Phase II Platform Trial for Mesothelioma
The drug studied in the mesothelioma trial, Zejula, is a PARP inhibitor, a type of therapy that targets weaknesses in cancer cells to destroy them. They work by interfering with the repair of damaged DNA, which, when unimpeded, leads to the death of cancer cells.
The NHS researchers’ next step, SELECTmeso, will be a Phase II platform trial that specifically analyzes different drugs’ impact on mesothelioma patients with evidence of MTAP loss. The goal is to learn the best treatments for patients with specific genetic signals. Professor Griffiths said, “We really hope this step into more personalized medicine could further help these patients who desperately need better treatment options.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, personalized approaches to treatment may be the best option for you. For more information on this and other resources, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.