Experimental Mesothelioma Drug Disables Tumor Antioxidant, Controls Disease in Majority of Patients

Scientists have entered a new phase of mesothelioma treatment with an experimental drug that targets the tumor’s own antioxidant defense. The compound disables PRX3, a protein tumors use to survive the oxidative stress of rapid growth. In an early clinical trial, the drug halted disease progression in 67 % of participants and produced encouraging survival outcomes. Mesothelioma, an aggressive asbestos‑linked cancer with limited therapeutic options, has long challenged clinicians. By turning the cancer’s protective mechanism against it, the study offers a novel therapeutic angle that could extend beyond mesothelioma. Researchers plan to expand trials to larger cohorts and explore the approach in other solid tumors that rely on PRX3 for survival.