A New Treatment For Liver Cancer Found

A cutting-edge pill developed by an Emeryville biotechnology company extended the survival times of people with advanced liver cancer by nearly three months compared with a placebo, according to a study released Monday, a result hailed as a significant improvement in a disease with few good treatment options.

Scientists who conducted the trial of Onyx Pharmaceuticals' drug Nexavar unveiled the results at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Onyx's shares gained $2.64 to close at $33.52 Monday.

Onyx and its co-development partner, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp., plan to ask the Food and Drug Administration to approve Nexavar as a liver cancer treatment based on the data just made public. The decision could come by early 2008, Onyx chief executive Hollings Renton said.

Nexavar is already approved to treat kidney cancer and is being studied in a range of other cancer types, including melanoma, lung cancer and breast cancer.

The drug is designed to block the formation of blood vessels that feed tumors and also interferes with cellular processes that foster rapid growth. It's an example of the burgeoning class of drugs that home in on the specific molecular mechanisms behind cancer -- one of the hottest areas in drug development.

Progress with drugs such as Nexavar and Genentech's Avastin has opened new commercial possibilities for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, and attracted intense interest from investors.

Although Nexavar is not a cure, its ability to lengthen survival could make it the standard of care for all liver cancer patients who are not eligible for surgery, Cowen & Co. analysts predicted.

Most liver cancers are diagnosed at a late stage and most patients die within a year, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which featured the Nexavar study as one of the most noteworthy trials to be reported at its meeting in Chicago.

Current treatment options for advanced liver cancer include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy delivered into the liver. Nexavar is the first systemic drug -- that is, a drug reaching the bloodstream by injection or oral medicine -- that has ever proven effective in treating liver malignancies, the cancer research organization said.

In a study of 602 people, those on Nexavar had a median survival time of 10.7 months, compared with 7.9 months for those given a placebo. By a separate statistical measurement that evaluates the reduced risk of death, the survival improvement was 44 percent.

The study was stopped early after an interim analysis of the data indicated a clear survival benefit, Onyx and Bayer announced in February without disclosing the data.

About 19,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer in the United States every year, and about 17,000 people die of the disease, the cancer research organization said. The disease is linked to infections with hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Alcoholism and food contamination are also contributing factors.

Nexavar costs $4,500 a month, and liver cancer patients would take it until tumors resume growing or perhaps longer, Renton said. In the study subjects on Nexavar, the median time before the disease worsened was 5 1/2 months, compared with 2.8 months for those on a placebo.

Renton said Onyx participates in patient-assistance programs for the uninsured and those who can't make insurance co-payments, and will evaluate the need for expanded efforts.

Cowen analysts estimate that Nexavar could reach sales over $1 billion by 2011, with $745 million in treatments for liver cancer.

source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/06/05/BUGMBQ7ES11.DTL

Mesothelioma At A Glance

There are incidences of Mesothelioma with no known asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is not a lung cancer. Smoking does not cause it. It is a cancer of the mesothelial cells. Causes of Mesothelioma The only known, established cause of Mesothelioma is asbestos. The asbestos fibers are breathed in, travel through the lung and become lodged in the pleura, the thin, saran wrap-type membrane that lines that encases the lung. The pleura, produces a special lubricating fluid that facilitates the ability of the lungs to move inside the chest during breathing. The process of irritation from the infiltration of the asbestos fibers creates changes in the cells, which causes the Mesothelioma. This is known as pleural Mesothelioma. Less common is peritoneal Mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the membrane that encompasses the lining of the abdomen. Symptoms of Mesothelioma An individual with Mesothelioma experiences chest pain usually caused by a build-up of fluid in the pleural space called an effusion and shortness of breath. Since many doctors may not have expertise in the area of asbestos-related diseases, these symptoms are often believed, at first, to be attributable to other medical problems. A biopsy of the pleural tissue or fluid may reveal the cancer of the mesothelial cells and a proper diagnosis can thus be established. A history of the individual?s occupational exposure shall be taken. Since there is no ?safe? level of exposure to asbestos, even brief, low level exposures may be enough to cause Mesothelioma. Occurrence of Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer and its incidence is actually increasing day by day. There is presently no known cure for Mesothelioma. As the disease progresses, the cancerous cells harden the pleura and spread. As time passes, breathing, sleeping and eating become more difficult and eventually it becomes increasingly more challenging for the victim to engage in normal activities and enjoy life. Treatments of Mesothelioma A number of treatments have been established to help contain the spread of the disease and reduce the pain associated with it. Chemotherapy, radiation and radical surgery to remove the lung and pleura are among the options that have been explored by the treating physician. Prevention is better than Cure Mesothelioma is a preventable disease. Many of the corporations that manufacture and make profit from the sale of asbestos-containing products are aware of the hazards of asbestos. Alternative fibers are available that could be used instead of asbestos. But asbestos is cheap, and available, and is a good filler and binder. To Sum up The varied and non-specific symptoms associated with Mesothelioma, can delay detection and diagnosis The cancer has a very long latency period, which means that it could be thirty years or more before the person even realizes that they have contracted the cancer .The onset of symptoms can take up to fifty years or more in some cases, but once the symptoms have manifested the lifespan of the person can be as short as several months. So, if you or a loved one is experiencing any of the above symptoms, consult your doctor right away. Make sure that your physician is aware of any previous asbestos exposure, and occupational risk factors.