Mesothelioma Research Organization Excited About Imminent Improvement to Standard of Care
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) May 22, 2015 -- A Phase 3 French study, which will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)’s annual meeting at the end of May, demonstrated improved survival rates for those patients who received bevacizumab in addition to the current standard chemotherapy regimen of pemetrexed/cisplatin. Bevacizumab (Avastin® Genentech, Inc.) is an antibody that blocks angiogenesis (blood vessel growth), and it is already routinely used to treat many other cancers, including lung cancer and colon cancer.
“The mesothelioma community has been waiting for this kind of news for a long time—it is the first positive phase III trial in mesothelioma since the original study of pemetrexed/cisplatin over 10 years ago,” said Dr. Lee M. Krug of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and chair of the board of directors of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.
“The addition of bevacizumab has the potential to become a new standard of care for first-line therapy in this disease,” he added.
The study, conducted between 2008 and 2014, included 448 patients treated in 73 centers. The patients were randomized into two arms-- one received standard chemotherapy (pemetrexed and cisplatin) and the other received standard chemotherapy plus bevacizumab. Overall survival was significantly longer in the experimental arm (median: 18.8 months vs. 16.1 months). The study concluded that adding bevacizumab in addition to pemetrexed/cisplatin provides a significantly longer survival in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, with acceptable toxicity, making this triplet a new treatment paradigm.
Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the lining of the lung, abdomen, or heart known to be caused by exposure to asbestos. Medical experts consider it one of the most aggressive and deadly of all cancers. An estimated one-third of those who develop mesothelioma were exposed while serving in the Navy or working in shipyards.
About Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
The Meso Foundation is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma and easing the suffering caused by this cancer. The Meso Foundation actively seeks philanthropic support to fund peer-reviewed mesothelioma research; provide patient support services and education; and advocate Congress for increased federal funding for mesothelioma research. The Meso Foundation is the only non-government funder of peer reviewed scientific research to establish effective treatments for mesothelioma and, ultimately, a cure for this extremely aggressive cancer. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $9 million to research. More information is available at http://www.curemeso.org.
Maja Belamaric, Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, http://www.curemeso.org, +1 (703) 879-3822, [email protected]
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