New Cancer Targeting Drug

Dr. Keith Flaherty of the University of Pennsylvania now has 17 people in his drug trial of a cancer treating drug called PLX4032. The work on this drug has been several years in the making, and it is not a new concept. However, the patients in the clinical trials for this drug have improved dramatically. PLX4032 is a very specific drug, made by Roche, that targets the B-RAF gene mutation common to melanoma, thyroid, colorectal, ovarian, breast, and lung cancer. Not every patient that has these types of cancers necessarily has the B-RAF mutation, but about 50% of melanoma and thyroid cancer patients have it. It is identified as one contributing mutation to the formation of cancer.
The initial troubles of the drug trial were in 2008, when the drug was being administered at lower doses. Dr. Flaherty pushed for higher doses, eventually resulting in a drug 10 times as potent as the original. This new form of PLX4032 is the one currently being used in trials. The results have been promising, with many of the melanoma patiens in the trial showing no internal or external tumors in the last few months.
While this is a promising drug for cancer treatment, the problem is specificity. This drug is targeted to a specific genetic mutation, which may or may not be causing the cancer in the patient. In order to even consider the drug, the tumor's have to be biopsied and identified as containing the specific genetic mutation. However, as more drugs like this one come out, hopefully a more universal genetic treatment for cancer can be adopted. This is the main reason this article interested me. I think it is amazing that drugs can alter or stop certain genes to help treat diseases such as cancer. In the future, these drugs have the potential to cure a vast number of genetic diseases.

David Szafron

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/health/research/22trial.html?pagewanted=1&ref=research