Posted on 08/31/2009 10:11:30 PM PDT by nickcarraway
One of the earliest chemotherapy drugs appears to work against a genetic fault that can trigger bowel and other cancers, UK researchers say.
In laboratory tests methotrexate, first administered in the 1940s, was found to destroy cells containing the damaged MSH2 gene.
This raises the hope of targeted treatments for those whose cancer is driven by the faulty gene.
Patient trials have already begun, EMBO Molecular Medicine reports.
The genetic condition HNPCC leaves people with a propensity to develop certain forms of cancer: some 90% of men and 70% of women will have developed bowel cancer by the time they reach 70.
This accounts for about 5% of all bowel cancer cases, and the condition also contributes to tumours of the stomach, womb, ovaries and kidneys.
About 40% of people with HNPCC carry a faulty MSH2 gene. The gene usually plays a vital role in repairing DNA damage, but if it is damaged, mistakes accumulate in the cells and increase the risk of a cancer developing. People who develop bowel cancer as a result may have more than one tumour, making the condition harder to treat. Years after it was first used in the US, methotrexate is still commonly used in the treatment of leukaemia. It works by stopping cancer cells growing and multiplying, but is not normally deployed against solid tumours as newer, better drugs have been developed.
"What's exciting about methotrexate is that it selectively destroys the cells lacking the MSH2 function. This indicates that it may make an excellent treatment for patients with the genetic alteration," said Professor Alan Ashworth, who led the study at the
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
I was diagnosed in 2003 with Mantle Cell Lymphoma - a form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma ...
It is incurable at this time - in fact, I almost certainly should be dead by now ...
Anyway the chemo I got for a year was Hyper CVAD (MD Anderson protocol), Rituxin, and METHATREXATE ...
It has worked on me so far ...
Great News and glad you are still with us.
One of the earliest chemotherapy drugs appears to work against a genetic fault that can trigger bowel and other cancers, UK researchers say.Thanks nick.
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