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New Lung Cancer Therapies Are Created

Posted on: Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 15:00 CDT

U.S. scientists have developed a method of treating lung cancer tumors that become resistant to anti-cancer drugs.

The researchers at the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, led by Dr. Balazs Halmos, previously found lung cancer cells can become resistant to novel targeted agents, such as Tarceva, a medication used for non-small-cell lung cancer. Tarceva is among a new generation of cancer therapies that disrupt the molecular target responsible for stimulating tumor growth.

But patients inevitably suffer a relapse when cells became resistant by undergoing a molecular change in the EGFR protein the medication targets.

However, the researchers found new second-generation Tarceva-like medications can overcome that change.

In the latest study, Halmos and colleagues were able to predict molecular changes the tumors might take to become resistant to this new class of agents.

We tried to outsmart tumors by anticipating their next moves, said Halmos. Through this research, we are redefining our tools and anticipating ways to fight lung cancer.

Halmos and his team received an award for the research last week in Los Angeles during the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Source: United Press International

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