Cancer Fighters Thrive is a quarterly print and online magazine bringing readers practical, innovative and inspirational information about cancer treatment and survivorship.
Issue link: http://cancerfightersthrive.epubxp.com/i/103434
RESEARCH TODAY RESEARCH TODAY ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL Personalized cancer treatment moves forward. By Kari Bohlke, ScD IT'S A POPULAR TERM these days: to respond to a targeted drug called Zel- Innovation in Colorectal Cancer Care personalized medicine. But what does boraf® (vemurafenib). The development of new, personalized it actually mean? In the case of cancer, • For women with early-stage, estrogen cancer treatments starts with innovative personalized treatment involves using receptor–positive breast cancer, the On- cancer researchers. Edward H. Lin, MD, the specific characteristics of the cancer cotype DX® test provides information a medical oncologist and researcher and the patient to guide treatment deci- about risk of recurrence and need for at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and sions. The goal is to identify in advance chemotherapy. the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research the treatments that are most likely to Research in personalized cancer care Center, specializes in the treatment of be effective for a given individual. Al- is challenging—cancers can be driven by gastrointestinal cancers and is studying though this idea is not a new one, our multiple, complex biological pathways— new and more-effective ways to treat ability to achieve it is growing as re- but progress is clearly being made. And colorectal searchers identify new biological path- when tests are available to guide treatment interested in the role of cancer stem ways that contribute to cancer growth decisions, patients can benefit no matter cells in cancer growth and resistance to and new drugs that target these path- what the test result. If you learn that you treatment. "It's an emerging field," he ways. are not a candidate for a particular treat- explains. "These are cells that may have ment, for example, you can avoid the side escaped chemotherapy, and a higher Here are a few examples: effects and the cost of that treatment and number of these cells predicts worse • Roughly 5 percent of non–small cell focus your attention on other approaches outcomes for the patient." lung cancers contain an abnormal ver- that are more likely to be effective. cancer. He's particularly A treatment that Dr. Lin is studying sion of a gene known as ALK. Patients These tests do not replace a discussion involves a combination of two drugs who test positive for this genetic change of treatment options with your physician, that are taken orally (by mouth): tend to benefit from a targeted drug but they do allow for a more informed Xeloda® (capecitabine) and Celebrex® known as Xalkori® (crizotinib). discussion. Factors other than test re- (celecoxib). Xeloda is a chemotherapy • Melanomas that test positive for a par- sults—such as your individual needs or drug, and Celebrex is a nonsteroidal ticular mutation in the BRAF gene tend preferences—can also be considered. anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is cfthrive.com spring 2013 | cancer fighters thrive 23