An experimental drug was responsible for complete remission of cancer in 18 people with acute myeloid leukemia, the most common and aggressive type of the disease. Patients had failed standard treatments and were terminally ill.
The result of a clinical study with the drug was published this Wednesday, 15th, in the journal “Nature”.
According to the researchers, the new drug, called Revumenib, completely eliminated the cancer in a third of the participants in the US study.
Photo credit: Md Ariful Islam/Istock
Experimental drug cures 18 people of leukemia
Although the results are preliminary and do not guarantee a definitive cure, the study authors are optimistic.
“We think this pharmaceutical product is remarkably effective and we hope it will be available to anyone who needs it,” said Dr. Ghayas Issa of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
How was the study conducted?
The study included 68 patients diagnosed with different types of leukemia, including acute myeloid (82%), acute lymphocytic (16%) and acute mixed phenotypes (2%).
The total of 60 patients were adults (at least 18 years of age) and eight were children or adolescents (under 18 years of age).
However, the remedy is not suitable for every type of leukemia. The study focused on two genetic subtypes in which a protein called “Girl” allows the disease to progress. In studies, the drug managed to inhibit it and elicit important responses in advanced acute leukemia.
According to the researchers, 32 out of 60 participants (53%) showed an overall response to the treatment. Revumenib completely eradicated the cancer in 18 people included in the study (30%).