“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”
A trial looking at Taxoprexin (DHA-paclitaxel) for stomach or oesophageal cancer
Cancer type:
Oesophageal cancer
Stomach cancer
Status:
Results
Phase:
Phase 2
This trial was looking at a drug called Taxoprexin for cancer of the stomach or cancer of the food pipe (oesophageal cancer).
If stomach cancer or oesophageal cancer has grown into surrounding tissues, or spread to another part of the body, doctors often treat it with chemotherapy. In this trial, they were looking at a new drug called Taxoprexin. It is made up of a 
chemotherapy drug called paclitaxel, and a natural fatty acid called DHA. Cancer cells collect fatty acids, including DHA. So the researchers hoped that this would help more of the paclitaxel to get into the cancer cells and kill them.
The aims of the trial were to find out
- How well Taxoprexin worked for advanced stomach or oesophageal cancer
- What the side effects were
Summary of results
The researchers found that Taxoprexin helped some people. When they published their results in 2007, they compared them with results published from other trials. This showed that Taxoprexin worked about as well as other taxane drugs.
The trial recruited people with advanced cancer of the stomach or oesophagus that could not be removed with surgery.
- 53 people had Taxoprexin
- In 5 people, the cancer got smaller – the researchers call this a
partial response - In 35 people, the cancer stayed the same size – researchers call this
stable disease - In 8 people, the cancer continued to grow
- The researchers didn’t have results for 5 people
In people who responded to the drug, the trial team looked at the time it took for the cancer to start growing again. On average this was just under 3 months.
The main side effect was a drop in the number of white blood cells, causing an increased risk of infection.
We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the trial. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists () and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.
Chief Investigator
Professor J Evans
Supported by
Protarga
Theradex
Freephone 0808 800 4040
Last review date
CRUK internal database number:
Oracle - 149
Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.
Charlie took part in a trial to try new treatments
