A Peek at the Future of Cancer Therapy
A Peek at the Future of Cancer Therapy
April 24, 2001 (Dana Point, Calif.) -- They are the next generation of cancer drugs. They take full advantage of cutting-edge knowledge about the submicroscopic, molecular events occurring within cells that lead to cancer. They aren't here yet -- but they are on the way.
"What we are interested in is kinder, gentler treatment for cancer," says John Lyons, PhD, senior scientist for ONYX Pharmaceuticals in Richmond, Calif.
Lyons and several other cancer researchers offered a peek into the future of cancer treatment and prevention here at the American Cancer Society's Science Writers Seminar.
Most current cancer therapies are directed toward killing all rapidly dividing cells in the body, such as cancer cells. Unfortunately, cells in the gut, hair, and skin also are rapidly dividing, thus most cancer treatments can have severe side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea, weight loss, hair loss, and skin problems.
What these new drugs are designed to do is to target just the cancer cells and stop the process of tumor development dead in its tracks.
A person doesn't just wake up one day with cancer -- cancer comes from a complex chain of events that begins when a cell gets a signal that activates the tumor-development process. But that's just the beginning: inside the cell there is genetic material that would normally keep the cell from becoming cancerous - unless the "on" switch is turned off. And unfortunately, the situation is complicated by other genes that can promote cancer when they get turned "on". And it's not just a simple on/off switch. Most of these genes have normal functions and only help cause cancer when other factors make the genes act abnormally.
The new drugs are designed to act like control switches on the cell. By manipulating important chemicals inside the cell, they dampen overactive processes and stop tumors from developing.
Perhaps the compound that is closest to being used in cancer patients is the one Lyons' team is developing. It's already been tested in humans -- and these very early tests offer provocative evidence that it can work safely to stop the spread of existing cancers.
A Peek at the Future of Cancer Therapy
April 24, 2001 (Dana Point, Calif.) -- They are the next generation of cancer drugs. They take full advantage of cutting-edge knowledge about the submicroscopic, molecular events occurring within cells that lead to cancer. They aren't here yet -- but they are on the way.
"What we are interested in is kinder, gentler treatment for cancer," says John Lyons, PhD, senior scientist for ONYX Pharmaceuticals in Richmond, Calif.
Lyons and several other cancer researchers offered a peek into the future of cancer treatment and prevention here at the American Cancer Society's Science Writers Seminar.
Most current cancer therapies are directed toward killing all rapidly dividing cells in the body, such as cancer cells. Unfortunately, cells in the gut, hair, and skin also are rapidly dividing, thus most cancer treatments can have severe side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea, weight loss, hair loss, and skin problems.
What these new drugs are designed to do is to target just the cancer cells and stop the process of tumor development dead in its tracks.
A person doesn't just wake up one day with cancer -- cancer comes from a complex chain of events that begins when a cell gets a signal that activates the tumor-development process. But that's just the beginning: inside the cell there is genetic material that would normally keep the cell from becoming cancerous - unless the "on" switch is turned off. And unfortunately, the situation is complicated by other genes that can promote cancer when they get turned "on". And it's not just a simple on/off switch. Most of these genes have normal functions and only help cause cancer when other factors make the genes act abnormally.
The new drugs are designed to act like control switches on the cell. By manipulating important chemicals inside the cell, they dampen overactive processes and stop tumors from developing.
Perhaps the compound that is closest to being used in cancer patients is the one Lyons' team is developing. It's already been tested in humans -- and these very early tests offer provocative evidence that it can work safely to stop the spread of existing cancers.
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