NEW TECHNIQUES IN BREAST CANCER TREATMENT IDENTIFIED

Mass revolutions in the fields of technology and medicine have led to breakthrough in breast cancer treatment. In every cancer center PA, these newly found therapies are being increasingly made available to breast cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION TO TARGETED THERAPIES

A special branch of methods and medications has been developed by determining the exact molecular anomalies that are responsible for malignant growth in cancer. These targeted drugs work in a different way than the standard medications used with chemotherapy. At the cancer center PA they are often used along with chemotherapy for optimum advantage to the patient, and cause less adverse effects.

This category of advanced treatments is called targeted therapies. These have been made with the purpose of causing no damage to normal cells around the cancer and only aim at specific characteristics of the cancer cells, in order to get rid of them.

Immune targeted therapies are antibodies that work like natural antibodies made by our immune system and are safe for all patients except pregnant and nursing women.

LATEST APPROACHES TO THE TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER

Research at the CHUM Research Centre (CRCHUM) and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Australia has suggested an alarming correlation between the formulation of a particular protein called the human epidermal growth factor-2 (HER2) and rapid growth and spread of cancer cells in 20 to 30 % of breast cancer patients. HER2 status of breast cancer patients can be determined by testing the tumor tissue.

This category of aggressive and hard to cure cancers are called HER2 positive breast cancers that produce large amounts of this protein which cover the surface of cancer cells and receives signals that lead the cancer to proliferate. About one in four of all breast cancers are of this category.

HERCEPTIN : USE AND EFFECTIVENESS IN NEW THERPAIES

Herceptin a medication which is chemically known as trastuzumab is a man-made version of a specific immune system protein which is mainly used for the treatment of HER2 positive cancers. It is administered intravenously to women with positive lymph nodes and an abnormal HER2/neu gene. This medication is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for two purposes:

                     I.        For the treatment ofadvanced-stage HER2-positive breast cancers

                   II.        For lowering the risk

Though contrary to earlier studies it is now believed that Herceptin canlessen the contingency of recurrence, only when the cancer is not smaller than 0.5 cm and the cancer is grade 2 or 3.Additionally it has also been found that this medication also stimulates the generation of in tereferons that activate lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are immune cells which if present in tumors can improve the efficacy of their treatment.

SOME QUERIES ABOUT NEW TARGETED THERAPIES

There are a few issues that must be addresses by every hospital when new targeted therapies are recommended to any patient. These include the cost of treatment, extra tests and follow up checkups needed, side effect and also the status of the treatment, whether it is pre-tested or just a clinical trial.

Advanced targeted therapies have also brought focus to the customization of cancer treatment for each patient, the exact estimation of drug effectiveness and toxic level, and the raised cost of advanced cancer care.

SOME POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF NEW THERAPIES

Some side effects have been associated with these new therapies:

•          Mild fever and chills, weakness, nausea, vomiting, cough, diarrhea, and headache, which tend to reduce after first session.
•          Impermanent damage to the heartin some cases requiring constant monitoring.

The outcomes of the clinical trials and studies of the new medications and methods they are encouraging. However, researchers advise some caution in their rapid use till ore conclusive results are established.