Onconase
Oncocase Information
- Other names: Ranpirnase, P-30 protein
- Manufactured by: Tamir Biotechnology
- FDA-approved: No
- Used or tested in: Breast cancer, Mesothelioma, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma
Onconase is a chemotherapeutic agent being tested in mesothelioma patients. Like most other chemotherapy drugs, Onconase reaches the cancer by targeting rapidly dividing cells. After it is administered, it binds to these tumor cells, inhibiting their growth and leading to their death. It stands out from other chemotherapy drugs because it causes minimal, manageable side effects.
Although the Tamir-manufactured drug is still in testing phases, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes its potential in mesothelioma treatment. The FDA granted Onconase orphan drug status to speed up testing phases and give it the opportunity to be approved faster. The drug, which may be called by its generic name ranpirnase, is also a hopeful drug candidate for the treatment of breast cancer and lung cancer.
If you're seeking top mesothelioma treatment, be sure to learn about all your options. Our free informational packet goes over top new drugs and therapies for mesothelioma treatment to help you make informed decisions. Request your free packet be completing the form on this page.
How Onconase Works
Onconase is administered intravenously each week for 30 minutes. How many weeks a patient receives Onconase will vary depending upon factors such as their overall health, whether another chemotherapeutic agent is being administered, and their initial response to treatment. When Onconase binds to the surface of a cancerous cell, it penetrates the cell's protective membrane. Once inside the cell, Onconase interferes with information and messages within the mesothelioma cell, causing an interruption in its processes. This eventually causes the cancer cells to die, which slows tumor growth and may even shrink the tumor.
Onconase is often used in conjunction with other drugs or chemotherapy agents to improve its potency and efficacy. Onconase tends to cause minor side effects which are significantly more manageable than those caused by other chemotherapy regimens. Most commonly, patients receiving Onconase report nausea, fatigue and hair loss.
Results of Onconase Studies
Discovery of Onconase
In the early 1970s, researchers at Penn State University discovered that embryos of the Northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) had tumor-fighting properties. Scientists studied extracts from the embryos for two decades, and then realized the results were linked to a basic protein known as ranpirnase. Researchers soon began to synthesize the protein and study its potential use as the cancer-fighting drug Onconase.A 2001 Phase II clinical trial of Onconase was an early test of the drug's efficacy in mesothelioma patients. Researchers tested the drug in 105 patients, 39 of which had previously undergone chemotherapy with no results. Each patient received Onconase intravenously for 30 minutes each week. Overall, researchers reported median survival times between six and eight months. Survival rates were comparable to or better than survival times for other chemotherapy treatments like doxorubicin and cisplatin.
Following this study, researchers conducted a Phase III clinical trial of Onconase involving 413 mesothelioma patients. In the trial, one group of patients was treated with a combination of Onconase and doxorubicin, while the other group was given doxorubicin as a single agent. The results did not show a significant difference in median survival times for most participants. Patients receiving both treatments lived a median of 11.1 months, compared to 10.7 months in patients receiving doxorubicin alone. However, researchers noted an improvement among 130 patients who had previously received chemotherapy without results. Among these patients, adding Onconase to doxorubicin extended life spans by a median of 1.5 months.
For more information about Onconase and other new treatment options for mesothelioma, contact a Patient Advocate. Use our Doctor Match program to speak with someone who can assist you in finding the best doctors and treatment facilities in your area.
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