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Oxaliplatin and Raltitrexed Considered in Treatment of Pleural Mesothelioma
Oxaliplatin and Raltitrexed Clinical Trial in Pleural Mesothelioma:
May 21, 2002 — Italian medical researchers recently conducted a clinical trial involving the use of the drugs oxaliplatin and raltitrexed to treat patients with pleural mesothelioma (Tumori 2001 Nov–Dec; 87(6): 391–3). Raltitrexed inhibits tumor cells from multiplying by interfering with their ability to make deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA. Oxaliplatin is an anticancer drug that belongs to the family of platinum compounds.
Eleven patients with inoperable malignant pleural mesothelioma received injections of a combination of raltitrexed and oxaliplatin every three weeks during the course of a phase I clinical trial. In a phase I clinical trial, researchers test a new drug for the first time in a small group of people to evaluate its safety and effectiveness, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
The combination of oxaliplatin and raltitrexed was partially effective in treating pleural mesothelioma in four patients, caused a more pronounced slowing of the disease in one patient, and had no effect in four others. The disease continued to progress in two patients. Toxic reactions were generally mild. The researchers considered these preliminary results promising.
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