A groundbreaking new drug, ADI-PEG20 or pegargiminase, is being celebrated as a major advancement in the treatment of mesothelioma, a cancer often linked to asbestos exposure. This drug, the first of its kind to be successfully combined with chemotherapy in two decades, promises new hope for thousands of patients and their families.
Key Takeaways
- ADI-PEG20 blocks the cancer’s food supply by preventing cancer cells from absorbing the amino acid arginine.
- The drug has shown to significantly increase survival rates in mesothelioma patients.
- Clinical trials were conducted in five countries and included 249 patients.
- The results of the trial are published in the journal JAMA Oncology.
How ADI-PEG20 Works
ADI-PEG20 works by blocking the cancer’s food supply, specifically the amino acid arginine, which is essential for protein building. Mesothelioma cells lack a protein called ASS1, which allows cells to produce their own arginine. By preventing these cells from absorbing arginine from the bloodstream, the drug hinders their ability to grow and spread.
Lead researcher Dr. Peter Szlosarek, a professor at Queen Mary’s Barts Cancer Institute in London, expressed his excitement: “It’s truly wonderful to see the research into the arginine starvation of cancer cells come to fruition. This discovery is something I have been driving from its earliest stages in the lab.”
Breakthrough Clinical Trial
The discovery follows a Queen Mary University of London-led trial conducted between 2017 and 2021 in Australia, Italy, Taiwan, the U.K., and the U.S. The trial included 249 pleural mesothelioma patients who received chemotherapy every three weeks for up to six cycles. Half of the patients were also given injections of ADI-PEG20, while the other half received a placebo.
Trial Results
- Survival Rates: ADI-PEG20 quadrupled three-year survival rates.
- Average Survival: Patients receiving ADI-PEG20 and chemotherapy survived an average of 9.3 months, compared to 7.7 months for those receiving the placebo and chemotherapy.
- Median Overall Survival: The combination of ADI-PEG20 and chemotherapy increased median overall survival by 1.6 months.
- Safety: The treatment was well tolerated with no significant safety issues.
Impact on Patients
One of the trial participants, Mick, a factory worker exposed to asbestos in the 1970s, shared his experience. Diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in 2018 and given only four months to live, Mick has been part of the trial for two years. “I’d have two injections of the new treatment — one in each arm. I didn’t have any serious side effects,” Mick said. “I met many of the other people on the trial. Over time, some of them disappeared. But I kept going.”
More than two years after joining the trial, Mick’s mesothelioma returned, and he received a second round of treatment that included immunotherapy. His cancer is now under control, and he recently celebrated his 80th birthday. “This trial has changed the lives of people with mesothelioma, allowing us to live longer,” Mick shared. “I have five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren now. I wouldn’t want to miss all that.”
Future Prospects
Researchers are optimistic about the future of ADI-PEG20 as a standard treatment option for mesothelioma patients. Dr. Szlosarek stated, “We look forward to seeing this treatment become available as a standard option to all patients in the future.”
Sources
- New Drug to Treat Mesothelioma Hailed as a Major Breakthrough, Mesothelioma Center.
- Drug said to be a breakthrough in asbestos-linked mesothelioma cancers, WPTV.
