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Patients with a certain kind of malignant mesothelioma now have a new weapon in their arsenal, thanks to the approval of a new drug for lung cancer. The drug, called afatinib, was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in its late stages. Like mesothelioma, this type of cancer is often associated with a mutation in the gene that codes for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), causing cells to overexpress EGFR. In clinical trials on lung cancer patients, afatinib produced a progression-free survival time of 11.1 months compared to 6.9 months with the standard therapy. In lung cancer patients with the EGFR mutation, it took an average of 13.6 months for their cancer to worsen. The benefits of afatinib were not affected by gender, race, age, or smoking status of participants. Although the drug has not been tested in mesothelioma, its approval is still important news for patients fighting the asbestos cancer. Mesothelioma is a fast-growing cancer with no reliable treatment options. As with lung cancer, the prognosis with mesothelioma is typically poor. The standard drug therapy is a combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin, the same combination typically used for non-small cell lung cancer. With the approval of afatinib, mesothelioma patients who fail to respond to this therapy now have an alternative. About half of mesothelioma patients tested have the EGFR mutation, making them more likely to respond to the mechanism of afatinib, which is part of a new class of drugs known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The new drug was approved along with a diagnostic test used to identify cancer patients whose cells overexpress EGFR. "Today's approvals further illustrate how a greater understanding of the underlying molecular pathways of a disease can lead to the development of targeted treatments," said Richard Pazdur, MD, director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article. This article was written by a third party and its content reflects the views of the third party and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions or of Surviving Mesothelioma or Cancer Monthly. If anyone is in the unfortunate position to be suffering from mesothelioma cancer they are likely to be offered with choice of treatments, which were dependent upon the several factors. To know more about Mesothelioma compensation just do visit us.
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