Drug combination extends pancreatic cancer patient survival, study suggests

A multi-center Phase III clinical trial demonstrates that Abraxane (below left structure) (nab-paclitaxel) plus gemcitabine is the first combination of cancer drugs to extend survival of late-stage pancreatic cancer patients compared to standard treatment. Their findings show that Abraxane plus gemcitabine (below right structure) was well tolerated and resulted in clinically meaningful outcomes compared to gemcitabine alone, the current standard of care. 

MPACT is the largest phase III clinical trial completed in advanced pancreatic cancer with more than 800 patients. Findings from the study showed a 59 percent increase in one-year median survival rates from less than a quarter of the patients (22 percent) to more than a third (35 percent). The two-year survival rate for this cancer is negligible, less than 4 percent, but that more than doubles (9 percent) with the nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine combination.

The study showed significant improvement among some of the sickest patients including those with increased metastases. Significantly there was no increase in life-threatening toxicity. Other drug combinations that have demonstrated benefit have been limited by increased toxicities.

"This is a major improvement in a cancer with the lowest survival rates among all cancer types," said Dr. Ramesh Ramanathan, medical director of Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale Healthcare and principal investigator for the clinical trial in the United States. "Advanced pancreatic cancer is fourth most common cause of cancer death in the United States and throughout the world. It is difficult to diagnose with a majority of the cases diagnosed at a late stage after the disease has already advanced."

Drug combination extends pancreatic cancer patient survival, study suggests

New drug candidate shows promise against cancer - MIT Media Relations

Drugs containing platinum are among the most powerful and widely used cancer drugs. However, such drugs have toxic side effects, and cancer cells can eventually become resistant to them. Stephen J Lippard, Chemistry Professor, MIT who has spent much of his career studying platinum drugs, has now identified a compound that kills cancer cells better than cisplatin, the most commonly used platinum anticancer drug. The new compound may be able to evade cancer-cell resistance to conventional platinum compounds.

“I’ve long believed that there’s something special about platinum and its ability to treat cancer. Using new variants, we might have a chance of applying platinum to a broader range of cancer types, more successfully,” said Lippard. Lippard is senior author of a paper describing the new drug candidate, known as phenanthriplatin - which is cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂(phenanthridine)Cl]NO_3.

Drug combination highly effective for newly diagnosed myeloma patients......

A three-drug combination treatment for the blood cancer multiple myeloma compares favorably to the best established therapy for newly diagnosed patients, according to a multi-center study led by Andrzej Jakubowiak, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and director of the multiple myeloma program at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

( Carfilzomib)

 (Lenalidomide)

( Thalidomide)

The combination includes an investigational medicine called carfilzomib combined with two standard medications: lenalidomide, an analogue of thalidomide, and low-dose dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory with anti-cancer properties.

"This combination appears to deliver everything we expected and more," said Jakubowiak, who came to the University of Chicago this fall from the University of Michigan. "We have seen excellent efficacy — the best reported to date — without the neurotoxicity that has been problematic with other drug combinations."

Ref : http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2011/20111206-myeloma.html