Wyeth Pharmaceuticals presents temsirolimus results

Torisel (temsirolimus) can increase the overall survival of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), according to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Presenting results of a recent trial at the 43rd American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, the company suggested that overall survival for both clear-cell and other tumour cell patients is boosted.

The findings come as the American Cancer Society predicts that there will be 51,190 new cases of kidney cancers during the year. RCC accounts for around 85 per cent of this disease, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals said.

“The results of these analyses expand our understanding of temsirolimus in patients with advanced kidney cancer,” said Janice Dutcher, associate director for clinical affairs at Our Lady of Mercy Medical Centre in New York and professor of medicine at New York Medical College.

“The data also improve our knowledge of patients’ perception of their health during this time on therapy.”

Last week, when the results of the test were published, director of the genitourinary malignancies programme at Fox Chase Cancer Centre Gary Hudes said that RCC patients with poor prognosis are particularly difficult to treat.