New Drug Shows Promise Against Liver Cancer

Investigational medication benefits half of patients

THURSDAY, Sept. 30, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- An investigational cancer drug called BAY 43-9006 stabilized or shrank tumors in 52 percent of people with advanced primary liver cancer, a new study shows.

The drug stabilized disease for at least four months in 43 percent of the patients and shrank tumors in 9 percent of the 137 patients. Median overall survival was 9.2 months and median time-to-tumor progression was 4.2 months.

Fatigue (9.5 percent), diarrhea (8 percent), and hand-foot skin reaction (5 percent) were among the most common side effects.

The findings were presented at the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer meeting in Geneva.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more about liver cancer.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com