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11/09/2013

Cancer Drug Could Help Treat Ectopic Pregnancy

A drug, used to treat lung cancer, could be given to women with ectopic pregnancies, in an effort to help them avoid surgery. The joint study, which which carried out by researchers in Edinburgh and Melbourne, Australia, and is published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found that combining a drug called 'gefitinib', alongside with existing treatment, was more effective at curing the condition.

An ectopic pregnancy is when an embryo implants in the Fallopian tube. The condition can be treated with drugs if it is identified early, but surgery is needed when the condition is more developed.

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A total of 12 women took part in the trial.

It was discovered that the cancer drug, gefitinib, blocks a protein known to encourage cell growth, and one that is found in high levels at the site of ectopic pregnancies.

Experts suggests combining the drug with the current conventional treatment – methotrexate – could reduce the need to remove the Fallopian tube in a significant number of cases.

They added that this would help a patient's level of fertility.

The study also found that the combination was able to reduce the time taken to successfully treat ectopic pregnancies in women who did not require surgery.

Dr Andrew Horne led the study and explained: "An ectopic pregnancy can be extremely stressful for the woman involved.

"If we can reduce the need for surgery, and thereby help fertility levels, then that would be an enormous benefit.

"Reducing the treatment time for women who do not need surgery would also have a significant impact in reducing the emotional stress of such a diagnosis."

There are now plans to run a trial on a larger scale.

(JP/CD)

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"A drug, used to treat lung cancer, could be given to women with ectopic pregnancies, in an effort to help them avoid surgery."