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Biotech / Medical : Indications -- Cancer -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: keokalani'nui who wrote (72)	6/12/2001 9:45:00 PM
From: Miljenko Zuanic	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1840

ZD 1839 Shows Promise in Phase II Renal Cancer Trial -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Jun 11 - ZD 1839 (Iressa), an oral chemotherapeutic agent that has shown promise in treating lung and prostate cancer patients, may also be beneficial for patients with inoperable renal cell cancer. Dr. Nancy Dawson and colleagues, from the University of Maryland, in College Park, recently began a phase II clinical trial of ZD 1839 for patients with inoperable renal cell carcinoma. Findings from laboratory and animal studies indicated that ZD 1839 not only slows the growth of cancer cells but also results in tumor shrinkage. A prior phase I trial established the safety of the 500 mg daily dose used in the current study. "We just started the trial, but so far, the results are promising," Dr. Dawson told Reuters Health. "We were hoping that ZD 1839 would stabilize disease and our primary endpoint was time to disease progression," she added. "We were elated to see actual shrinkage of tumor." Dr. Dawson pointed out that the longest follow-up period, thus far, is about 3 months. "We don't have very good therapies for kidney cancer," Dr. Dawson commented. "We have interferon and interleukin-2, but they are immune therapies and they don't work very well or for very long," she added. "It is a disease for which we need to find new therapies." Dr. Dawson noted that ZD 1839 is a "designer" drug. It was created to fit perfectly into the epidermal growth factor receptor, a receptor that is overexpressed on many cancer cell types, including renal cell. By completely blocking the receptor, ZD 1839 inhibits cancer cell growth. "We have seen very few side effects with the drug," Dr. Dawson noted. "It does cause some acne and diarrhea, but these side effects have been easy to control," she said. "So far, with the group I've treated, I haven't had to do any dose adjustments for drug-related toxicity," she added. "ZD 1839 is currently in phase III trials for lung cancer and it is about to enter phase III trials for prostate cancer," Dr. Dawson said. "There is a lot of activity and interest in ZD 1839, but I'm not exactly sure when it will be going to the Food and Drug Administration for approval."