Poorva Chavan
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Written By: Poorva Chavan | Updated : February 3, 2016 7:02 PM IST
Treatment of cancer usually involves chemotherapy and radiation and is very taxing for the patient. The treatments also have some side effects and chances of it relapsing cannot be overlooked. But, now a new drug has shown to reduce cancer cells in almost 80% of patients with an advanced form of leukaemia in a four-year period of the clinical trial. 20 % of the patients went into complete remission of the disease.
Andrew Roberts, one of the leaders of the trial working with the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Australia informed that many people have maintained this response for more than a year after their treatment began. (Read: Better approach to treating CLL, chronic leukemia soon)
The clinical trial
The drug Venetoclax was given in tablet for in different doses to over 116 patients in Australia and the US over a four-year period. These patients had advanced chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) which was not improved by all other conventional treatments.
The drug did not give desired results in the beginning but in the end, cancer cells were reduced by at least half in 79% patients, and 20% patients went into remission. The researchers claim that the drug had a profound effect on the patients that the most sensitive tests couldn't detect remaining cancer cells. The researchers beleiev that the outcomes will them design a cure for CLL. (Read: 3 types of blood related cancers you should know about)
How does the drug work?
The drug targets a protein called BCL-2, which promotes cancer cell survival. Venetoclax has been specifically developed to block the action of BCL-2. Roberts explained that high levels of BCL2 protect leukaemia cells from dying and turns the cells resistant to standard treatments. He explained that Venetoclax targets the interaction responsible for keeping cancer cells alive and in many cases they have seen cancerous cell simply melt away. (Read: New leukaemia drug kills 90% of the cancer in its first dose)
Approval by the FDA
According to reports, the FDA has given Venetoclax a Priority Review status for treating certain cases of CLL. The priority status is only granted to drugs that the FDA believes to have the potential to improve significantly diagnosis, treatment or prevention of a disease. (Read: The new drug ibrutinib is more effective than chemotherapy in treating older patients with chronic leukemia)
Side effects
During the trial, some patients experienced nausea, pneumonia, respiratory tract infections, anaemia, and prostate cancer whereas some patients reported no side effects at all. However, researchers believe that patients who have no hope because of the diseases will be willing to take a risk with this drug. (Read: Will eating avocados regularly keep leukaemia at bay)
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