Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Pfizer has developed an experimental drug that has been reported to show significant promise in beginning testing for the treatment of lung cancer in a specific subset of patients. The drug targets a gene found in 4% of lung cancers, especially among younger, non-smokers. While this is a tiny percentage, 4% of 220,000 recent lung cancer victims every year equates to 10,000 people who could potentially benefit from this cancer drug therapy. More study is needed, but the data reportedly is so hard that even normally cautious researchers are impressed.  Targeting specific genes that control the growth of tumors is helping the cancer research community understand cancer, which they hope in turn will lead, eventually, to a cure.

For the filled story, go to Drug Discovery & Development.