molecularly+targeted+therapy

Molecularly Targeted Therapy

What is molecularly targeted therapy? Drugs are made to a molecular level of a cell to specifically target, attack, and kill a specific type of cancer. This drug is called [|Gleevec], or also know as [|STI571], and is the breakthrough drug for targeted cancer treatment that is most commonly helpful to patients with leukemia. Molecularly targeted therapy contradicts ideas taught before in oncology that combining two cancer treatment drugs would be dangerous and super poisonous. Now, with this new therapy, two different drugs can be combined to help fight off and kill cancer cells.

Gleevec is now getting priority review by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of CML due to its positive clinical results and will be available to patients in the next couple of months. The story of how the Gleevec drug came along is said to be "a beautiful example of how knowledge of the biological functioning of the cell can lead to life saving medical treatment". It went from a basic science to drug discovery and development.

The development of this new drug will lead to new innovations of other drugs that will help fight off various other cancers. It has paved a new road for doctors and researchers, as well as cancer patients. Doctor Margaret I. Cuomo, M.D. claims that a new generation of scientists will transform the cancer culture.

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Cuomo, Margaret I. A World without Cancer: The Making of a New Cure and the Real Promise of Prevention. New York, NY: Rodale, 2012. Print.

Pray, Leslie A., Ph.D. "Gleevec: The Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment." Nature.com. Nature Publishing Group, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.

Terranella, Scott. "Doctors Excited by New Cancer Treatment." ABC News. ABC News Network, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.