Latest news with #GarethGriffiths
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
GSK's Zejula reduces risk of progression and death in mesothelioma study
GSK's Zejula (niraparib) has reduced the risk of death or progression by 27% in patients with mesothelioma in an investigator-led Phase II trial. The NERO study (NCT05455424) investigated the efficacy of Zejula in 88 mesothelioma patients who relapsed after previously receiving platinum-based systemic therapy. The study is sponsored by the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and funded by Asthma + Lung UK, with support from Mesothelioma UK and the Mavis Nye Foundation. Mesothelioma is a highly aggressive cancer that forms in the protective lining surrounding certain internal organs, most commonly the lungs, and is usually linked to asbestos exposure. Treatments are limited, and the standard of care (SOC) includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Those treated with Zejula benefited from an average of 1.5 months progression-free survival (PFS) compared to SOC – marking a 27% reduction in the risk of the cancer progressing or death. Professor Gareth Griffiths, director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and co-lead of the trial, said: 'Although this increase may seem small, for this group of patients who have very few treatment options and a generally poor prognosis, this is a significant step forward. "We have shown for the first time that this kind of drug can improve progression-free survival for mesothelioma patients compared with their usual treatment in the NHS. This gives enormous hope to those patients and their families and means we can now carry out further research to find out more about how these treatments could be tailored and enhanced to stimulate an even better response in more people.' The data was presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago, US, on 29 April. The University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is now keen to initiate a new study, SELECTmeso, which will be a Phase II platform trial in patients with confirmed histological diagnosis of mesothelioma with evidence of MTAP loss on immunohistochemistry, and evidence of disease progression following prior standard systemic therapy on CT scan. Griffiths added: 'This trial will see patients tested for certain biomarkers, or genetic signals, in their tumours and then given the drug that is most likely to work for them. We really hope this step into more personalised medicine could further help these patients who desperately need better treatment options.' Zejula is an oral poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor that was approved on 27 March 2017 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. Other PARP inhibitors being investigated in patients with mesothelioma include AstraZeneca's Lynparza (olaparib), which is currently in a Phase II trial (NCT04515836); and Pfizer's Talzenna (talazoparib), which is also in a Phase II study (NCT04462809). AstraZeneca is also studying volrustomig, a bispecific antibody immunotherapy that targets and blocks PD-1 and CTLA-4. The drug is currently being evaluated in a Phase III trial for malignant pleural mesothelioma (NCT06097728). In September 2024, the FDA approved MSD's Keytruda in combination with chemotherapy as a treatment for unresectable advanced or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma, based on data from the KEYNOTE-483 (NCT02784171) study. "GSK's Zejula reduces risk of progression and death in mesothelioma study" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Trial gives new hope for patients with asbestos-linked cancer
For the first time researchers in Southampton have used a drug to slow the growth of an asbestos-linked is an aggressive cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs or abdomen and is linked to breathing in or ingesting dangerous asbestos have said the breakthrough gives new hope to patients who have exhausted traditional treatments, and could give them more time with their loved Gareth Griffiths, director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit and co-lead of the trial, called it "a significant step forward". James Fox, from Dorset, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2018 and given less than a year to tried other treatment options, he was offered the chance to join the new drug trial, and said the results had been an architect, in the 70's and 80's he was exposed to asbestos, which has now been linked to his aggressive cancer, with only 5% of those diagnosed surviving for five years or Fox said: "I've had seven really good years and been able to enjoy life almost to the full so that's wonderful. "So far it's been almost a miracle in my case." The trial was run by researchers at the University of Leicester and the Cancer Research UK Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, with funding provided by the charity Asthma + Lung the NERO trial, it looked at a class of drug known as PARP inhibitors, which work by blocking the repair of damaged DNA in cancer cells, thereby causing the cancer cells to inhibitors have already been shown to improve the survival of patients with some types of breast and ovarian cancers. A previous study had also shown that mesothelioma does respond to this type of drug, but more evidence was needed as to whether it could improve outcomes for 11 hospitals across the UK, 88 patients whose mesothelioma treatment had stopped working took part in the trial. 'Enormous hope' Those given a PARP inhibitor called niraparib were found to have a 27% reduction in the risk of the cancer progressing or death. This delayed the worsening of mesothelioma by an average of 1.5 months compared to those receiving the standard of care treatments, with a number of patients seeing a much longer period of time where their cancer was being Griffiths said: "We have shown for the first time that this kind of drug can improve progression-free survival for mesothelioma patients compared with their usual treatment in the NHS. "This gives enormous hope to those patients and their families and means we can now carry out further research to find out more about how these treatments could be tailored and enhanced to stimulate an even better response in more people." For Mr Fox, who has five grand children, the treatment has surpassed all his expectations."It's dramatic, the improvement, I don't think this could have possibly happened without this particular drug, without being offered it. "It must be the drug that's been keeping me fit and alive, so I'm very grateful for that." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Skin cancer patients given fast-track access to Southampton vaccine trial
Skin cancer patients are being given fast-track access to Southampton's "revolutionary" Cancer Research UK vaccine trial as it expands. The Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad has been expanded to include patients with advanced melanoma. The scheme matches eligible patients to studies developing vaccines against cancers. The latest trial, known as SCOPE, focuses on a new DNA vaccine aimed at improving the immune system's recognition of cancer cells to enhance response to immunotherapy. The NHS has partnered with Scancell, a life-sciences company based in Oxford, to widen access to the trial for patients with advanced melanoma. READ MORE: Southampton Hospital CONFIRMS it will be making cuts Professor Gareth Griffiths, director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, said: "It is fantastic to see the expansion of the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad with the addition of this melanoma cancer vaccine trial. "Our team has been working hard with Scancell to bring the trial onto the CVLP platform and we hope that by being part of this ground-breaking programme we can help to increase referrals for this trial and give more patients with advanced melanoma access to new, potentially life-saving treatments." Patients from several hospitals across the UK, including University Hospital Southampton (UHS), are already participating in the phase II SCOPE trial. SCOPE patient Paul Thomas with health minister Karin Smyth (Image: Submitted) Paul Thomas, a 63-year-old grandfather of four and window cleaner from New Milton, Hampshire, is taking part in the trial at UHS. READ MORE: MP concerned over potential closure of local pharmacies He was diagnosed with advanced skin cancer in 2017 and expressed his gratitude for being on the trial, saying: "I feel so lucky to be put on the trial. "Thankfully, I was still quite fit and since I've been on it, every time I go for a scan they seem to be shrinking, which is really exciting." To mark the launch of the SCOPE trial, health minister Karin Smith, who herself was treated for melanoma, visited the unit. She said: 'As someone who has overcome skin cancer, I know that every advancement in treatment brings hope to patients and their families. 'This innovative collaboration through our Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad could transform how we treat advanced melanoma." Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'This kind of innovation is nothing short of life-saving and I want to see more of these world-leading treatments being developed in the UK." Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, accounting for around 4 per cent of all new cancer cases – with analysis by CRUK showing cases had risen by a third between 2009-2019. Around half of melanoma patients respond to standard care of immunotherapy, but people who don't respond are at higher risk of their cancer progressing.
