A breakthrough drug that mimics human immune cells is boosting survival chances of patients with incurable bowel cancer.
Specialist are hailing it as the first life-extending cancer drug without significant side effects.
The new drug may mean that those with advanced disease no longer have to make the ‘quantity versus quality’ trade-off – either having gruelling chemotherapy in the hope of extending life, or concentrating on best enjoying their last remaining days.
Normally patients lose weight, suffer fatigue, nausea, anaemia, lack of energy and suffer pain as a result of cancer treatment.
Normally patients lose weight, suffer fatigue, nausea, anaemia, lack of energy and suffer pain as a result of cancer treatment
But Xilonix leaves patients feeling ‘unbelievably well’, say experts.
The drug is a synthetic version of a human immune system cell known as an antibody that is naturally present in 20 per cent of the population and gives a degree of protection against bowel cancer.
Because the drug targets cancer cells rather than indiscriminately attacking the rest of the body, it causes far fewer side effects.
Results from a British trial of 309 patients showed that Xilonix arrested the growth of tumours and those on it experienced fewer symptoms. The trial also indicated that the so-called monoclonal antibody treatment would help some patients live longer.
Oncologist Tamas Hickish, from Bournemouth Hospital, who led the trial, said: ‘I have never come across a cancer drug for advanced cancer that has almost zero side effects.’
And Dr Mark Sanders, an oncologist at The Christie hospital in Manchester, explained: ‘This drug latches on to the cancer and doesn’t affect the rest of the body.’
Ray Pollicott, 74, tried the experimental new drug after being told in 2015 that his cancer had spread so far he probably had only a few months to live. He said: ‘I am amazed at how well I’ve felt. I’ve been on five-mile walks and at times was almost able to forget I had cancer.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4635768/DIY-kit-given-patients-bowel-cancer-tests.html
