New cancer treatment successfully passed the test phase: what next?

In 2013, researchers from London begantesting of the drug "tizotumab-vedotin", which destroys cancer cells in a completely new way. Its essence lies in the penetration into the cells and the release of a destructive toxin for them, which has already managed to prove its effectiveness. In the first stage of testing, the drug caused serious side effects such as diabetes and fever. They managed to be neutralized by decreasing the dose and now, in 2019, the drug showed excellent results in the second stage of testing.

One of the main components of the drug isan antibody that quickly finds a receptor called "tissue factor" and, like a Trojan horse, penetrates the cells. There he releases a substance called mono-methyl auristatin E, which interferes with their reproduction and completely destroys them.

At the first stage, the drug was tested only onIn 27 patients, but learning how to manage side effects, the researchers expanded the number of subjects to 147 people. These included patients with different types of the disease, who were no longer helped by standard treatment methods. The results were very good: most people were susceptible to the drug and their tumors either stopped growing or decreased altogether.

People with urinary cancer have experienced the greatest benefit.bladder - the condition has stabilized in 27% of volunteers. The least effect of the drug was noticed by women with cancer of the mucous membrane of the uterus - their share was only 7%. The effect of the drug lasted from 5.7 to 9.5 months, and among the side effects only nosebleeds, nausea and vision problems were observed.

Having obtained such results, the researchers expandedthe study zone of the second stage of testing and included cancer of the intestine, pancreas and cervix. If the drug shows efficacy and this time, in a few years they will start the third stage of testing. It is noteworthy that "tizotumab-vedotin" is not a panacea, but claims to be the best treatment for patients for whom other drugs no longer help.

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