May 16, 2000 – Endostatin, an angiogenesis inhibitor drug presented in 1998 as a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer, has yet to show conclusive results after seven months of clinical studies on its safety.
Angiogenesis is the process by which a cancerous tumor develops new blood vessels that allow it to grow. Angiogenesis inhibitor drugs are currently the subject of much research because it is believed that they could offer an effective strategy in the fight against several forms of cancer.
Endostatin was developed by Dr. Judah Folkman and colleagues at Children’s Hospital in Boston. It is currently the subject of three different clinical studies, supervised by the National Cancer Institute (United States), on 45 patients.
Following persistent internet rumors that endostatin had significant positive effects on several patients, a National Cancer Institute spokesperson said that no major clinical results had been reported. until now. On the other hand, several study subjects withdrew, but the researchers declined to say how many left the experimental groups.
One of the subjects who dropped out of the research saw his liver tumor grow by 70% while receiving endostatin, which exceeded the 50% limit set in the research protocol. His request for a higher dose of the drug was rejected for safety reasons and because there is no indication that a higher dose would produce more effect.
The researchers informed informally that it is still too early to issue an official statement, that the drug appears to have low toxicity and that it shows some inhibitory activity of angiogenesis without however stopping the cancer.
HealthPassport.net
According to Associated Press, May 11, 2000