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Lung cancer drug trial begins

Lung cancer drug trial begins

29th March 2011

Researchers in Oxford have started a trial with a new drug which treats people who have lung cancer.

The treatment, which halts the growth of cancer cells, is being trialled on those patients who have stopped responding to chemotherapy. 

The trial is one of the first to go ahead at the Oxford Cancer Research Centre.

The trial's chief investigator Dr Denis Talbot said they hoped the drug trial might increase survival rates for lung cancer patients.

Pre-clinical investigations of the drug were performed at Oxford University by the Cancer Research team.

The investigations showed the drug worked on lung cancer cells.

Dr Talbot said it was "greatly encouraging" that the medication could be the basis for the trial.

"Survival from this disease still remains low," he added. "One reason is that the majority, 65-75%, of lung cancer patients are diagnosed when the cancer has already become aggressive, which makes it more difficult to treat successfully."

"There's an urgent need to develop new medicines which may provide additional options for these patients." 

Around 30,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year in the UK.

 

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