Nerd News

A research conducted by the Massachusetts General Hospital Center revealed that the lung cancer treatment called Iressa had improved the condition of the patients who are affected by NSCLC or non-small-cell-lung-cancer even before a chemotherapy is done. However, according to the Journal of Clinical Oncology (May 20 issue) additional research must still be done before it can be used as a treatment to all NSCLC patients.

In the same report, Lecia Sequist, MD and a Master of Public Health in Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center stated that the research shows how they are willing to find a future for the cure of lung cancer instead of sticking to the traditional way of treating the condition.

In United States, one of the major reasons why cancer patients die is because of NSCLC. For so many years, chemotherapy does not work on some patients suffering from NSCLC. No other options are available for those patients until recently. It was only in the year 2003 when Iressa was permitted to be a treatment for those who have NSCLC. This is because Iressa inhibits the EGFR or Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor on lung cancer cells’ surface. It gave dramatic results to nearly 15% of the treated patients as it rapidly shrank the tumors of most patients who have undergone the therapy.

Unfortunately, Iressa is not yet available in United States. However, a major drug manufacturer called AstraZeneca already supports the research. There are other drugs that immobilize the EGFR that are already in the Markey including the erlotinib or Tarceva.

Massachusetts General Hospital

Posted by sexy_geek at 9:37 AM