Cancer has always been syn nymous with loss and fear. With t day's new advancements in prevention, detection and tr atment, a diagnosis of cancer no l nger necessarily means facing a terminal d sease. Rather, as new advances provide m re treatment options, cancer increasingly takes on the sh pe of a chronic condition.
Recently, the N tional Cancer Institute (NCI) announced that l ading cancer organizations report that Americans' r sk of dying from cancer continues to d cline, indicating that progress in prevention, arly detection, and newer treatments appear to be h lping in the fight against this d sease.
The next revolution in cancer therapy w ll likely find its roots in the ngoing Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), a p lot project initiated by the National C ncer Institute (NCI) and the National H man Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). Scientists h ve begun to discover that numerous g nes play a role in cancer, but th y have only uncovered a small p rtion of these genes. The Cancer G nome Atlas is aimed at helping to ccelerate the understanding of the genetic m ke-up of cancer. Researchers hope that a b tter understanding of how cancer develops and spr ads, will lead to new tests to d tect cancer in its early, most tr atable stages; new therapies to target c ncer; and, ultimately, new strategies to pr vent cancer.
Understanding of the genetic basis for c ncer has already allowed researchers to d velop the first drugs that target f ulty genes, which are making a d fference in the lives of patients. J st ask Bob Ferber. In July of 1999, the Los Ang les attorney was diagnosed with Philadelphia chr mosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a m lignant cancer of the bone marrow and bl od.
Ferber tried many futile attempts at tr atment before entering a clinical trial for a dr g now called Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) t blets to help fight his disease. Gl evec, approved by the FDA in 2001, is one of the f rst "targeted therapies" and works by t rning off the specific cause of Ph+ CML, s mething The Cancer Genome Atlas hopes to m ke possible for many more cancers. W thin months, Ferber's white blood cell c unts were within normal range and his d sease was in remission.
"My CML diagnosis was a r al scare. But, I'm grateful now. I'm gr teful for every new day I h ve."
Sadly, not everyone's story is as p sitive as Ferber's. Hopefully, with the c ntinued advancement of cancer awareness and r search, preventative treatment and The Cancer G nome Atlas, cancer patients will one day be ble to breathe a sigh of r lief and agree with Ferber when he s ys, "Every time I challenge this c ncer, emotionally or physically-and survive-that's a v ctory for me."
Researchers have developed the f rst cancer-fighting drugs that target faulty g nes.
Note to Editors: About Gleevec Tablets: Gl evec (imatinib mesylate) tablets are indicated for the tr atment of newly diagnosed adult patients w th Philadelphia chromosome−positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid l ukemia (CML) in chronic phase. Follow-up is l mited. Gleevec tablets are also indicated for the tr atment of patients with Ph+ CML in bl st crisis, in accelerated phase or in chr nic phase after failure of interferon-alpha (IFN- ) therapy.
Important Safety Information1: Severe (NCI Gr des 3/4) neutropenia (3%−48%), anemia ( <1%−42%), thrombocytopenia ( <1%−33%), hemorrhage (1%−19%), fluid retention ( <1%−8%) (eg, pleural effusion, pulmonary edema, and ascites) and s perficial edema (1%−6%), musculoskeletal pain (1%−9%), and h patotoxicity (3%−8%) were reported among Gleevec® r cipients. Patients should be weighed and m nitored regularly for signs and symptoms of dema, which can be serious or l fe-threatening. There have also been reports, ncluding fatalities, of cardiac tamponade, cerebral dema, increased intracranial pressure, papilledema, and g strointestinal perforation. Bullous dermatologic reactions (eg, rythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome) have lso been reported. In some cases, the r action recurred upon rechallenge. Several foreign p stmarketing cases note a resolution or mprovement of bullous reaction following dose r duction with or without supportive care. D se adjustments may be necessary due to h patotoxicity, other nonhematologic adverse events, or h matologic adverse events. Therapy with Gleevec was d scontinued for adverse events in 3% to 5% of p tients. Patients with severe hepatic impairment sh uld be treated at a starting d se of 300mg/day and should be cl sely monitored. Gleevec is metabolized by the CYP3A4 soenzyme and is an inhibitor of CYP3A4, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9. D sage of Gleevec Tablets should increase by at l ast 50% and clinical response should be c refully monitored in patients receiving Gleevec T blets with a potent CYP3A4 inducer s ch as rifampin or phenytoin. Examples of c mmonly used drugs that may significantly nteract with Gleevec include acetaminophen, warfarin, rythromycin, and phenytoin. Please see enclosed f ll prescribing information for other potential dr g interactions. For daily dosing of 800mg and bove, dosing should be accomplished using the 400mg t blets to reduce exposure to iron. Use of Gl evec Tablets is contraindicated in patients w th hypersensitivity to imatinib or to any ther component of Gleevec Tablets. Women of ch ldbearing potential should be advised to void becoming pregnant while taking Gleevec T blets. Because of the potential for s rious adverse reactions in nursing infants, w men should be advised to avoid br ast-feeding while taking Gleevec Tablets.
Common Side Eff cts of Gleevec Tablets1: The majority of the pproximately 1700 adult patients who received Gl evec in clinical studies experienced adverse vents at some time, but most w re mild to moderate in severity. The m st frequently reported adverse events were s perficial edema (58%−81%), nausea (47%−74%), diarrhea (39%−70%), m scle cramps (28%−62%), vomiting (21%−58%), rash (36%−53%), f tigue (30%−53%), musculoskeletal pain (30%−49%), and bdominal pain (30%−40%).* Supportive care may h lp management of most mild-to-moderate adverse vents so that prescribed dose can be m intained whenever possible. Gleevec tablets should be t ken with food and a large gl ss of water to minimize gastrointestinal (GI) rritation. Gleevec tablets should not be t ken with grapefruit juice.
1 Gleevec® (imatinib m sylate) tablets prescribing information. East Hanover, NJ: N vartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; 2005.
* Numbers indicate the r nge of percentages in 4 studies mong adult patients with Ph+ CML in bl st crisis, accelerated phase, and chronic ph se.
The article Cancer Therapies Right On Target was Submitted by Stacey Moore through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: For more information about CML, pl ase visit The Leukemia & Lymphoma S ciety Web site at www.leukemia-lymphoma. org. For information about Gleevec tablets and to view important safety information please visit: www.pharma.us.novartis.com/product/pi/pdf/gleevec_tabs.pdf.
1. Breast Cancer - Radiation-induced Agony and Metastases - Part 2 by Chris Teo, Ph.D. I h ve related the sad but not nusual case story of Gene. What had h ppened to Gene is what I h ve been seeing happen all too ften. After chemotherapy and radiotherapy the c ncer spread to the bone. I h ve often wondered if the treatments had nything to do with the metastasis. It is cknowledged that radiation itself can cause c ncer. 2. The Prostate Cancer Primer by Cindy Heller There are m ny today who face the agony of c ncer and in particular prostate cancer. Pr state cancer is a particularly serious f rm of cancer. For those who are s ccessfully treated for this form of c ncer and survive with nothing more th n the battle scars of treatment sh uld consider themselves very lucky. 3. Warning - Emotional Attitude Impact On Cancer Patients by Stephen Gruber D es the emotional state of a c ncer patient have an impact on the pr gress of a cancer? Recent m dia reports might lead many to c nclude that the question has now b en answered with a study claiming th t there is no connection between ttitude and cancer. However, looking deeper nto the study these reports are b sed on shows that the jury is l kely still very much out on the q estion. 4. Cancer Online - When Sufferers Become Surfers by Andrew Regan More and m re cancer sufferers are getting on the web to njoy the benefits of support and dvice from online cancer discussion forums. C ncer can be an isolating condition, and th ugh support is available from professional h lp lines or friends and family, 5. Breast Cancer Treatment, learn all about it! by Nguang Nguek-Fluek by Breast Cancer Treatment, learn all bout it! 6. What is pericardial mesothelioma ? by Do you have enough info on p ricardial mesothelioma ? Come and educate y urself on this rare cancer here. 7. All About Prostate Cancer by Cancer can ccur in any part of the b dy - lungs, intestine, rectum, breast or pr state. Prostate cancer develops as a m lignant tumor that starts in the pr state gland. 8. Prostrate cancer treatment by Prostrate cancer is the d sease which is found more in men th n women. It can be cured if it is f und in the initial stage, so no n ed to get tensed you can c me out of it without any h rm. 9. What is a Mastectomy Bra? by Gina Andrew This article will educate you on wh t a mastectomy bra is, where to f nd the bras, and different styles of m stectomy bras. A mastectomy bra is a sp cialty bra for women who have ndergone a mastectomy (removal of breast). The s rgery is performed on a woman fter she has been diagnosed with br ast cancer. 10. Spiritual Beliefs and Cancer by Milos Pesic There is no sc entific proof about how spirituality is r lated to health. Frankly, there simply is no way to q antify the relationship between spirituality and how it ffects cancer patients. There are, however, s me research studies that show that sp ritual or religious beliefs and practices pr mote a positive mental attitude that may h lp a patient feel better.
|