Australian researchers to trial drug that could act as a 'magic bullet' in the ... - The Australian

Carol Klintfalt, who has mesothielioma, is hoping to be part of the trial of a new drug that may assist with treatment of the disease. Picture: Adam Ward Source: News Limited

IN a world first, Australian researchers are about to trial a new drug that may give promise to sufferers of the deadly asbestos-caused mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma, considered the "man-made cancer" because it is caused by exposure to asbestos fibres, has no cure and sufferers are often given a poor prognosis with the average survival post diagnosis of just six to 18 months.

Following a three-year study into the genetic characteristics of mesothelioma, researchers from the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI) found the growth of tumour cells could be decreased with a synthetic version of genetic material targeted at the tumours.

Called TargomiRs, the experimental therapy involves "magic bullet" technology - mini-cells invented to transport the drug to the tumour area. It has proven remarkably effective in studies on mice.

Professor Nico van Zandwijk, Director of the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, said new therapies were urgently needed because the disease was resistant to other types of cancer treatment.

"It is a difficult disease to treat so we are hoping this is a form of magic bullet," Professor van Zandwijk said.

The trial, expected to start by the end of the year, will recruit 20 to 30 patients to determine the optimal and safe dose of the experimental TargomiRs therapy.

The trial was made possible by a $1.2 million donation from the family of Andrew Lloyd, who died of malignant mesothelioma in August 2011.

"However, to do this we need further funding of $750,000. If the results are favourable and we will know that in about two to three years, this may lead to a new form of treatment for patients with mesothelioma," said Professor Van Zandwijk.

Carol Klintfalt from Hornsby Heights was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in 2006 and has so far defied the odds, but she is keen to be on the new trial.

"Last year I had nine cycles of chemotherapy and at the end the chemo wasn't working any more. This trial is a matter of life or death to me, to put it plainly, so I am very excited and hope I am on the trial," Ms Klintfalt, 63, said.

Ms Klintfalt was a keen renovator during the seventies and eighties and is considered the "third wave" of the disease behind the miners and asbestos manufacturers and tradesmen.

"I remember buying big sheets of asbestos and using it in the bathrooms. You didn't even think about it, my kids were little at the time and you were all out there as a family renovating," she said.

With one in three houses in Australia containing asbestos, the incidence of mesothelioma is set to rise.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing there were 666 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in 2010-11 and 642 deaths.

It is estimated that these figures will continue to rise in the coming decades due to the third wave.