HIV Drug Might Fight Cancer

[Smoothstone]

National Cancer Institute is testing an already approved HIV drug, Nelfinavir, to see if it's effective against lung cancer. There is a story on this development today at www.aidsmap.com in the "today's news" section on the leftside of the screen.

The report is published in the Sept. 1 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

HIV positive people with lung cancer are not excluded from this trial...despite the protocol website which shows HIV+ as an exclusion. The protocol is being amended to allow HIV+ participants.  PWAs who have already used a protease inhibitor are excluded.  The current dose of Nelfinavir they are studying is 1875 mg twice daily.

The phase I clinical trial is open and proceeding well. I spoke with Dr. Perry today .They need 30-45 people with non small cell lung cancer who have already tried at least one round of chemo therapy. Prior radiation is not required. This would generally be those of us with Stage 3B or 4. NCI pays for travel to Bethesda and also hotel costs, meals if needed. They will do telephone screening. 301-435-5609 Arlene RN ; 301-435-5413 Cytnthia RN; NCI Protocol # 00436735
Nelfinavir for lung cancer.


From www.healthday.com : go to search "nelfinavir" for the Sept. 1 story:

From www.healthday.com : " The researchers hit upon the idea of testing nelfinavir and other protease inhibitors as cancer drugs, because these drugs block Akt, a protein essential for the development of many types of cancer, including non-small lung cancer.

In experiments with mice, the research team tested 6 protease inhibitors on non-small cell lung cancer and on 60 human cancer cell types from nine different kinds of malignant tissue.

At doses that are safe in HIV-infected patients, three of the drugs,  Nelfinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir, blocked growth of non-small cell lung cancer and every other cancer cell type tested. Nelfinavir was the most effective of all the drugs tested. It caused cancer cells to self-destruct or become stressed to the point of dying.

In addition, nelfinavir inhibited the growth of both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant breast cancer cells, indicating that it could be used to fight cancer cells that are resistant to common chemotherapy drugs. Nelfinavir may also be able to overcome resistance to radiation, the researchers reported.

Dr. Dennis noted that low doses of nelfinavir are used in treating HIV, and even at those low doses, the drug is effective against cancer. The current phase I trial will test higher doses to find the most effective dose with the fewest harmful side effects, he said.

In the trial, patients are already receiving higher doses with no apparent problem, Dennis said.

*****  I have 10 years of experience taking nelfinavir ...at the low dose, 1250mg twice daily,  for my HIV infection. Its been easy sideeffectwise for me...and that's why it seems especially hopeful as a treatment for lung cancer. I 'm interested in networking with anyone considering or on the nelfinavir/lung cancer trial. I have lung cancer and am currently on no treatment. My lung cancer was discovered in a job mandated annual xray screening for TB. I was asymptomatic when the small spot on my lung was noticed. A biopsy confirmed lung cancer. Thanks, Hank.