A promising couple

One drug treats several types of late-stage cancer

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

American scientists presented the results of phase I/II clinical trials, where the properties of the immunotherapeutic drug nemvaleukin alpha were studied independently and in combination with pembrolizumab, writes EurekAlert. The participants were patients with various types of solid tumors at late stages.

Nemvaleukin alpha is aimed at stimulating the growth and reproduction of antitumor immune cells. Its use triggers an attack of CD8 T cells and killer cells that target the tumor, scientists explain. At the first stage of the study, they tested the drug as an independent treatment method.

In 18% of patients with metastatic kidney cancer, treatment led first to a decrease in tumor growth, and then to its reduction for at least six months. Similar results were achieved in 8% of patients with melanoma. Then the scientists evaluated the effect of nemvaleukin alpha in combination with the already available and widely used immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab.

The combination led to a tenfold increase in CD8 T cells and killer cells in 16% of volunteers with all types of cancer, more than half of whom demonstrated a complete halt in the progression of the disease.

For example, 28% of women with ovarian cancer had a response to treatment, although chemotherapy had not shown any result before.

The study is currently ongoing. The final results should show at least similar benefits in order for nemvaleukin alpha to be destroyed for the treatment of people with metastatic solid tumors.

Previously, other scientists have shown the effectiveness of combined immunotherapy for the treatment of liver cancer. The drugs also helped to stop the progression of the disease and increase life expectancy.

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