WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: New Drugs Give Hope for People with Deadly Cancer

To mark World Cancer Day, February 4, the World Health Organization (WHO) provides new guidance regarding early diagnosis, which can increase the life expectancy of people with cancer.WASHINGTON -

Life expectancy of patients with various types of cancer have risen sharply in the past 50 years, but some types of cancer is still very difficult to cure. One new drug that is being made to target several types of aggressive cancers. The results of clinical trials showed that the number of cancer patients, which does not work other drugs, responded well.

The team of scientists at major pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, and Abbvie Stemcentrix, bio-technology small firms, create new drugs that target a number of aggressive cancers. Cancers that are difficult to treat and often recur. Drugs are being made both companies were successful in mice and monkeys, and human trials are ongoing.

Researchers at Pfizer, Marc Damelin says, "Basically, we hope to destroy cancer up to the roots. Just like when we garden, we will deprive weeds to the roots so as not grow anymore. Drugs that are designed to kill the tumor down to its roots. And we do this the essence of chemotherapy kill cells. "

Through Skype on Pfizer research center in New York, Marc Damelin describe two benefits of the drug.

First, it is an antibody that helps fight cancer. The team of scientists has included chemotherapy drugs into the antibodies, form protein molecules. The antibody attaches to cancer cells continue to divide in order to prevent it from growing while the chemotherapy drugs that kill.

"These drugs, in essence, is a guided missile," he said.

Damelin said nearly 30 percent of patients with cancer of the ovary or ovaries in the trial showed a positive response. They are patients who have already tried various other drugs but failed.

The hope is a new drug that will replace standard chemotherapy. And because he had a specific target, the drug will not be too toxic and has fewer side effects.

If successful, a team of scientists said the drug may also help patients with other types of cancer, including cancers of the prostate, colon, esophagus, and aggressive type of leukemia.Larger trials in humans will begin this year. If successful, the drug could save the lives of patients with these cancers, which is difficult to treat. [Ka / jm]