Targeting Cancer
Cancer is not a single disease but is instead caused by the presence of multiple genetic mutations, which will be unique in each and every patient. Certain genetic mutations may be shared, but the exact pattern of faulty genes that lead to cancer onset and progression will always be different.
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Cancer drugs are now being developed to the most prevalent mutations, but researchers will also need to target less frequent mutations and develop rational drug combinations to achieve superior and long lasting effects. Diagnostic genetic screening programmes will also allow surgery and targeted treatments to be more effective; so it clear that future medicine will become highly personalised.
The good news is that 100s of cancer genes have now been characterised for future drug targeting. Recent clinical trials in the colorectal cancer field have begun to identify how composite genetic mutations interact to modify patient responses. Horizon founders have been at centre of determining that (K-Ras, B-Raf & PI3K) mutations impart resistance to marketed cancer drugs; Erbitux and Vectibix.
Even though a direct correlation between patient genotype and drug response is incontrovertible, there remains a key question to be addressed: How can the development of new targeted treatments to specific mutated genes be accelerated so that a toolbox of drugs large enough to rationally mix and match to each patient be assembled?