Oncology

NEW LUNG CANCER DRUG

Tarceva, a new lung cancer drug that is still under tests, is proving to be effective at combating the growth of cancer cells.
John and Daythel Torian have been married for nearly 50 years. They’ve shared the joys of being parents and grandparents. But, just a year ago, John received tragic news that changed their life forever. “When people say cancer, we’re all fearful,” said Daythel Torian, John’s wife.

John, a 25 year cigarette and pipe smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer.
“I remembered every prayer the nuns taught me in first grade when I heard that I had lung cancer.”
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. More people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.
But now, there’s new hope for lung cancer patients. The drug Tarceva is a breakthrough that has created a buzz among cancer specialists.
It’s the first drug to demonstrate an ability to literally stop cancer growth in its tracks, targeting and killing cancer cells without damaging normal cells.
“In lung cancer, the only targeted therapy that’s been shown to prolong survival is this drug Tarceva,” says Dr. Roy Herbst, MD Anderson Cancer Center.
John enrolled in MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Tarceva trial and has had incredible results. “There has been no growth of the tumors,” says John.
On normal cells are receptors which are stimulated by growth factors. When bound by the growth factors, the receptors intertwine, and create a site inside the cell that stimulates the production of proteins that in turn cause the cells to divide and multiply, and causes more blood vessels to grow so the tumor can spread. In lung cancer cells, there are many more receptors and as well, an overproduction of the very growth factors that bind to the cells.
In other words, the cells excite themselves, and begin to divide more quickly. As a result, the lung cancer grows and spreads.
The new lung cancer drug Tarceva works by blocking the complex inside the cell from uniting, so it can’t trigger the production of proteins inside the cell. This slows down the resulting cell division and halts the spread of cancer.
80% of lung cancer cases are of the type called non-small cell lung cancer. It’s the kind commonly seen in smokers and survival rate is abysmal, less than 10%. Finding something that can prolong survival rates would be considered a major advance among cancer researchers.
Tarceva has also shown significant results in patients who have not responded to other treatments, like Charles Gibson, who’s been smoking since he was 13 years old. “It shrunk nearly 90% of the tumor,” says Charles.
One of the very few side effects from Tarceva is a skin rash, a far cry from the hair loss, low blood counts and effects on the neurological system which patients usually have to fight with chemotherapy.
“I really think it’s a lifesaver,” says Charles.
Dr. Herbst is hopeful that more lung cancer drugs like Tarceva, which has the ability to block the growth of cancers, will soon be developed.
“There are other cancers where this might be appropriate for use such as neck cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer,” says Dr. Herbst.
As for John, at least for now, his prayers have been answered.
“If it keeps it stabilized I’m pleased.”
Tarceva is not yet approved by the FDA, but OSI pharmaceuticals, the company that manufactures Tarceva, hopes it will be available by first quarter 2005.
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