Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
04 November 2014 11:55
Experts have found that eribulin can extend the lives of women with aggressive forms of breast cancer by several months
Giving breast cancer patients a drug made from sea sponges can extend their lives by several months, according to a new study.
Researchers at the University of Leeds carried out two large-scale trials with more than 1,800 participants who had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
They found that the drug eribulin extended the women's survival by an average of more than two months.
Women who had advanced triple negative breast cancer - an aggressive form of the disease for which there are few treatment options - benefited the most from the drug, with their lifespans increasing by almost five months.
Those with HER2 negative breast cancer lived more than two months longer when given eribulin, it was found.
Martin Ledwick, head information nurse at Cancer Research UK, described the results as "encouraging" for those women whose cancers no longer respond to conventional treatments.
He said that eribulin is not a cure but an additional option to extend patients' lives - which could be "priceless" for the women and their families. It may give them the option to spend valuable time with their family and friends, or to embark on a holiday with the security provided by specialist travel insurance for cancer patients.
The drug was originally derived from Halichondria okadai, a sea sponge, although it is now produced in laboratories.
Chris Twelves, professor of clinical cancer pharmacology and oncology at the University of Leeds, said the findings show that eribulin can lead to a "substantial improvement" in women's survival rates.
He pointed out that, while the drug was previously only available for women who had undergone several rounds of chemotherapy, the EU has now also approved it for those who have not received as much treatment.
The findings of the study were presented at the National Cancer Research Institute's cancer conference in Liverpool.
20 May 2017
Holidaymakers travelling via London City Airport will benefit from a digital air traffic control tower from 2019.
[more...]
19 May 2017
Many Britons are increasing their risk of developing diseases like cancer by drinking too much alcohol, experts have suggested.
18 May 2017
People could increase their chances of developing serious illnesses after spending just two weeks as a 'couch potato', new research suggests.
17 May 2017
Holidaymakers who would like to sample the high life can now do so at one of the major airports of the United States.
16 May 2017
A star of the soap world has called for more attention to be paid to common health problems like Alzheimer's disease.
13 May 2017
Two major Scottish airports have achieved their strongest April passenger totals on record, new figures reveal.
12 May 2017
The carbon emissions of EasyJet flights have been cut to their lowest level on record, the budget airline has reported.
11 May 2017
Holidaymakers faced long queues and delays at Stansted Airport on Tuesday (May 9), due to a fault with the site's security scanners.
10 May 2017
Workers have been encouraged to find out about their full entitlement to holidays, with many thought to be missing out on paid leave.
09 May 2017
Holidaymakers have been urged to stay vigilant against potential scams.
06 May 2017
Researchers in the US are recommending that anyone experiencing the symptoms of so-called 'noisy knees' should have them checked out, as they may be an early sign of osteoarthritis.
05 May 2017
Excessive drinking among baby-boomers could pose health risks further down the line, experts have warned.