Potential New Treatments For Cancer

Industrial, academic and government research centers are working on new ways to fight cancer every day. Although we often speak of "a cure" for cancer, it is important to remember that cancer in the human body has many forms and each one requires a specifically tailored approach. I thought it would be useful to summarize some potential new treatments in clinical trials for selected types of cancer.

An oncogene is a gene that causes normal cells to change into cancerous cells. Some cases of nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are initiated when the ALK oncogene rearranges by fusing to another gene. Patients with this type of lung cancer may soon have the drug crizotinib as a treatment option. Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials have been completed and the drug is currently in phase 3. According to Dr. Alice Shaw of Massachusettes General Hospital, crizotinib appears to significantly increase survival time of patients with ALK-positive NSCLC, and it may become the standard of care for this disease. Patients taking the drug reported feeling better and having more energy than before treatment.

In a recently completed clinical study on men with advanced prostate cancer who were previously treated with chemotherapy, MDV3100 increased survival time by 4.8 months versus placebo. The drug was produced by Medivation, Inc.

According to MedPageToday.com, regorafenib, also known as BAY 73-4506, is an oral drug for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that has not responded to standard treatment. A phase 3 clinical trial of 760 patients completed in October 2011 showed that the drug extended survival time.

GDC-0941, a drug that targets the P13K gene and is made by Genentech, showed promise against advanced breast cancer in a phase 1 study. The results of the study were described in an August 5, 2011, report on FierceBiotech.com. This clinical study was made up of 97 patients with various forms of advanced tumors. The one patient with advanced breast cancer showed "significant shrinkage" of the tumor. Side effects reported by patients were not particularly problematic. Although this is an encouraging result, this drug requires much more clinical study.

This hub has been written for the sole purpose of providing information to the reader. It is not intended to be a source of any kind of medical advice or instruction, and it should not be used in the diagnosis of any illness, disease or condition. You should consult your doctor if you have questions about a specific medical problem.