Experts hail promising trial of cancer drug
Researchers have identified a potential new targeted treatment for incurable bowel cancer.
The medication has shown promise in a clinical trial in slowing the regrowth of tumours among some patients with the condition.
The trial looked at whether a drug called adavosertib, taken as a daily pill, could delay tumour regrowth among patients with an aggressive sub-type of inoperable bowel cancer who have limited treatment options.
Researchers compared 44 patients who took adavosertib with 25 patients who did not.
They found that the drug delayed tumour growth by about two months on average and had relatively few side effects.
The drug had more effect in the 31 patients with leftsided/rectal tumours, increasing overall survival – meaning patients lived longer.
Lead author Dr Jenny Seligmann, of the University of Leeds, said: “These results show promising
signs that adavosertib may be effective in delaying regrowth of bowel cancer in some patients and is well tolerated.
“The findings are particularly encouraging as the subset of patients involved represent a third of all bowel cancer patients and, while other patients have treatments developed specifically for their tumour types, this group currently has very limited treatment options.”
The scientists caution that larger trials are needed to establish whether the drug improves survival compared with standard treatment.
The drug was trialled among patients on a treatment break following chemotherapy.