The sea-squirt derived drug trabectedin resulted in anti-tumor activity in over half of 51 patients studied with a type of soft tissue sarcoma. Two patients saw their tumors disappear completely.
Lead researcher Federica Grosso said that while the drug could not be used to treat other soft tissue cancers, the results offer hope for patients with myxoid liposarcomas.
“If the results of this analysis are reproduced in ongoing prospective studies, myxoid sarcoma would represent a uniquely sensitive subgroup to trabectedin treatment in the heterogeneous family of soft-tissue sarcoma,†the researchers commented.