{"id":328,"date":"2013-12-17T14:54:45","date_gmt":"2013-12-17T20:54:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mesotheliomabook.com\/blog\/?p=328"},"modified":"2014-10-29T12:20:43","modified_gmt":"2014-10-29T17:20:43","slug":"major-uk-trials-explore-life-extending-treatments-mesothelioma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomabook.com\/blog\/major-uk-trials-explore-life-extending-treatments-mesothelioma\/","title":{"rendered":"Major UK Trials Explore Life-Extending Treatments for Mesothelioma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
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Two UK clinical trials are underway, each with the goal to study the effectiveness of several drugs on patients suffering with pleural mesothelioma. The first trial \u201cMESO 2,\u201d is dedicated to studying a drug called \u201cganetespib.\u201d Supported by Cancer Research UK, the National Institute for Health Research Cancer Research Network (NCRN), Synta Pharmaceuticals, and University College London (UCL), the MESO 2 trial aims to find the best dose of ganetespib to administer alongside standard chemotherapy medicines including pemetrexed and cisplatin. Ganetespib is a type of biological therapy called \u201cheat shock protein 90 inhibitor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Researchers believe that ganetespib stops signals that cancer cells use to divide and grow. If researchers are correct, ganetespib, given with pemetrexed and cisplatin, may improve the treatment of pleural mesothelioma.<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n

MESO 2 trial researchers have been accepting patients since August 27, 2013 and will continue through January 1, 2015. The Trial takes place in 2 stages including phase 1 trial<\/a> and phase 2 trial<\/a>. According to Cancer Research UK, during phase 1 trial, researchers want find the best dose of ganetespib to give with pemetrexed and cisplatin. To do this, they will give the first 3 people a low dose of ganetespib with the usual doses of pemetrexed and cisplatin. If they don\u2019t have any problems, the next 3 people have a higher dose of ganetespib, and so on, until they find the best dose to give. This is called a \u201cdose escalation study.\u201d<\/p>\n

During phase 2 trial (randomized), Cancer Research UK states that patients are put into treatment <\/a>groups by a computer. Group A will have ganetespib, pemetrexed and cisplatin, and Group B will have pemetrexed and cisplatin. They will ask for blood samples and a sample of tissue from the biopsy taken to diagnose mesothelioma. They will then use these samples to find out more about mesothelioma and how to treat it.<\/p>\n

To find out how to join this trial<\/a>, follow the link or you can contact the cancer information nurses at Cancer Research UK by phone (0808 800 4040), by email<\/a>, or at:<\/p>\n

The Information Nurses
\nCancer Research UK
\nAngel Building
\n407 St John Street
\nLondon
\nEC1V 4AD<\/p>\n

The second trial on the list is called \u201cCOMMAND\u201d and it will be conducted at hospitals and research centers around the world. This Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examines the effects of a drug called defactinib (VS-6063) in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who have not progressed after four cycles of treatment with pemetrexed and cisplatin or pemetrexed and carboplatin. Outcome measures include:<\/p>\n