Melbourne, Dec 12- A cancer drug in a trial here has eliminated advanced leukaemia in almost a quarter of patients who had run out of options, researchers say.
They say the cancer was cleared in 23 per cent of patients and a further 61 per cent achieved partial remission, despite having endured an average of four other unsuccessful treatment regimes, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reports.
Early results of the chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) treatment in an international trial led by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research could also have implications for other cancers.
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre chair of haematology John Seymour told the American Society of Haematology annual meeting in New Orleans it was still very early in the development of the novel compound, but its success was unprecedented.
“Patients on the trial were typically incurable, with an average life expectancy of up to 18 months,” Prof Seymour said.
“To see complete clearance of cancer in nearly one quarter of these patients, after taking this single therapy, is incredibly encouraging.” So far, the phase I study has involved 67 patients, whose cancer was resistant to up to 11 treatment regimes.
Professor Andrew Roberts of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute told AAP the therapy worked by overcoming the action of a key survival signal within leukaemia cells which allows them to avoid dying.
“In many cases, we’ve seen the number of cancerous lymphocytes simply melt away,” he said.
The researchers felt similar therapies could help in the treatment of other diseases including breast, lung and prostate cancers.
–Bernama
