New OHSU study shows promise in treating ‘urgent, unmet need’ in cancer patients
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A new study from OHSU is claiming to show promise in the treatment of what they are calling an "urgent, unmet need" in cancer patients.
The study, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine , touches on how cancer patients can suffer from a syndrome called cachexia. This involves appetite loss, loss of muscle mass and decreased physical activity.
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Further, according to OHSU medical oncologist and study co-author Dr. Eric Roeland, it also impedes the ability to give cancer treatment, since patients struggle to get food down in some instances.
"I've even had patients pretend to be asleep in their rooms, or I've had patients put rocks and coins in their pockets so when they stand on the scale that their loved one doesn't get on their case," said Dr. Roeland.
The study enrolled 187 participants from across the world, each undergoing treatment for either lung, colorectal or pancreatic cancer. Each of the participants were given a monthly dose of a drug called ponsegromab, a lab-manufactured clone of the body's antibodies.
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The goal was for the drug to stimulate the body's immune system by targeting a hormone and protein often elevated in people with cancer, called growth differentiation factor 15, or GDF-15.
The clinical trial found that using ponsegromab to inhibit GDF-15 increased body weight, improved symptoms and even improved quality of life in cancer patients with cachexia.
"Suddenly, people were gaining weight, they were hungry, and they were enjoying food," Roeland recalled. "That's not something you typically hear from people living with advanced cancer and receiving cancer therapy. Food is usually a huge struggle. This study marks a major step forward in this field."
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Roeland also noted how this treatment had no safety issues with participants.
"All of our cancer treatment therapies have some side effects. But we haven't seen any concerns with this study so far," he said.
Further, he hopes these results will aid in exploring unanswered questions, such as how ponsegromab can impact those affected with blood cancer. The way to do this, he said, is by encouraging others to participate in these types of trials.
"This trial's success depended on referrals from the thoracic oncology, gastrointestinal oncology and Community Hematology-Oncology teams," he noted. "We are also incredibly grateful to the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute for supporting this program to optimally care for patients as people living with cancer."
