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The positive results of a clinical trial involving a combination of two drugs reached the European Lung Cancer Conference this past April and are giving hope to victims of mesothelioma. Durvalumab and Gefitinib, when combined, have produced encouraging results in a phase I clinical trial of 19 patients. Clinical trials go through five phases, phase I being the second step in the process.
Gefitinib slows down the growth of tumors by blocking enzymes that assist in the creation of new blood vessels. By inhibiting the emergence of new blood vessels, tumors are weakened because of their dependence upon the blood vessels to flourish. Durvalumab blocks the linking of certain proteins emitted by cancerous tumors. By disallowing the bond of these proteins, the immune system is strengthened as signals are no longer being relayed for it to back down.
The phase I clinical trial held to test the effects of gefitinib and durvalumab featured 19 patients split up into two testing groups. One group containing nine patients received a combination of the drugs for eight weeks. The other group, featuring 10 patients, was treated initially with only gefitinib, and later in the trial with the combination of gefitinib and durvalumab.
Objective Response Rate, or ORR, refers to the percentage of patients seeing a reduction in tumor size. The group taking the combination of the two drugs had an ORR of 77.8 percent. The group that received an initial treatment of gefitinib, and later the combination of gefitinib and durvalumab, saw an ORR of 80 percent.
According to a study done by the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, mesothelioma, due to asbestos exposure, was to blame for the deaths of an estimated 39,870 Americans between the years of 1999 to 2013. Reports also showed no noticeable decline in asbestos-related illnesses per year during the span of the study. These clinical trial results may, in coming years, assist in shrinking the amount of yearly mesothelioma fatalities.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma following asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation by filing a mesothelioma claim. To learn more about your rights, speak with a member of our compassionate team of New Jersey asbestos lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler. Fill out our online contact form or call our offices at 215-569-4000 or toll-free at 800-369-0899 to set up your initial meeting in our Philadelphia offices. Our team proudly serves clients in Delaware County, Chester County, and Philadelphia County.