Cancer drug may ease pain from rheumatoid arthritis

[Guest guest]

Cancer drug may ease pain from rheumatoid arthritis

01/31/04

Treffinger

Plain Dealer Reporter

Researchers in the United States and in Europe are studying a possible new

way to treat rheumatoid arthritis: with a cancer-fighting drug that targets

specific immune cells.

Even though clinical trials with the drug, rituximab, or Rituxan, are still

under way, it has " significant potential " for RA patients, said Dr.

Kremer, clinical professor of medicine at Albany Medical College and

director of research at the Center for Rheumatology in Albany.

Kremer called Rituxan, which has proven effective against a type of

non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, " a promising rookie on the bench. " He said it has

captured rheumatologists' interest, but added it is " premature to say

anything too extraordinary about it. "

Plenty of people are holding out hope.

RA, an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in the lining of the

joints, affects 2.1 million Americans, according to the Arthritis

Foundation. It afflicts more women than men. Onset is usually in middle age,

but RA also affects children.

Between 15 and 30 percent of patients cannot tolerate or do not benefit from

existing drugs, said Dr. Michele Hooper, co-director of the Arthritis

Translational Research Program at University Hospitals of Cleveland.

" RA is still considered a disease without adequate treatment, " said Hooper,

who is leading a trial run by drug makers Biogen Idec and Genentech. " There

is no cure. "

Meka Fleck of Brunswick, whose RA was diagnosed last year, said she figured

she was a good candidate for Hooper's trial. Fleck has taken several

medications but has never had total relief from the pain.

Ultimately, Hooper wants to enroll 10 patients. They must have at least

eight swollen or tender joints, while taking methotrexate.

During the trial, patients continue with methotrexate and then get two

intravenous doses of one of the following combinations: a placebo and a

steroid, Rituxan and a placebo or Rituxan and a steroid. Within that

framework, there are different doses of the steroid and Rituxan.

If patients have not improved after 16 weeks, those who initially did not

get the full doses of Rituxan and the steroid will get them.

Fleck, a 35-year-old mother of two, has no idea which combination she

received last fall. She will find out in February. She felt some relief

after her second infusion, but recently started to have more flare-ups.

Hooper said the use of Rituxan to treat RA would be " groundbreaking, "

targeting B cells, a type of white blood cell that may play key role in the

inflammatory process. In the past, Hooper said, rheumatologists targeted T

cells, another type of white blood cell.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

streffinger@...plaind, 216-999-3906

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1075545043213

371.xml