New Methods for Treating Lung Cancer Cells that have become Resistant to New Anti-Cancer Agents
Source: News-Medical.Net
Researches from the Ireland Cancer Center have discovered a mutation in the epidermal growth factor protein (EGFR) that causes resistance in lung cancer cells to targeting agents, such as Tarceva, that attempt to halt the spread of cancer cells by disrupting the receptor responsible for tumor growth. Tarceva has been successfully deployed in clinical settings, with approximately 10 percent of patients achieving complete remission, but if the cancer returned, it was no longer successful in blocking tumor growth. The researchers discovered that a mutation altered the shape of the protein's drug-binding pocket so Tarceva no longer "fit" the pocket and, therefore, was not able to properly bind to the site to suppress tumor growth. The researches have developed compounds to avoid this resistance through an innovative use of different combinations of medicines. It is thought that the next generation of Tarceva-like drugs, some of which are already in development and starting clinical trials, will overcome these problems and prove even more effective for cancer treatment.
The research term, led by Balazs Halmos, MD, a lung cancer specialist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, received an award for its research at the recent American Association for Cancer Research meeting.
Researches from the Ireland Cancer Center have discovered a mutation in the epidermal growth factor protein (EGFR) that causes resistance in lung cancer cells to targeting agents, such as Tarceva, that attempt to halt the spread of cancer cells by disrupting the receptor responsible for tumor growth. Tarceva has been successfully deployed in clinical settings, with approximately 10 percent of patients achieving complete remission, but if the cancer returned, it was no longer successful in blocking tumor growth. The researchers discovered that a mutation altered the shape of the protein's drug-binding pocket so Tarceva no longer "fit" the pocket and, therefore, was not able to properly bind to the site to suppress tumor growth. The researches have developed compounds to avoid this resistance through an innovative use of different combinations of medicines. It is thought that the next generation of Tarceva-like drugs, some of which are already in development and starting clinical trials, will overcome these problems and prove even more effective for cancer treatment.
The research term, led by Balazs Halmos, MD, a lung cancer specialist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, received an award for its research at the recent American Association for Cancer Research meeting.
Labels: lung cancer
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