Another Targeted Advance in Treating NSCLC

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Iressa (gefitinib) for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors harbor specific types of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations.    This new approval extends only to patients whose tumors express specific mutations, originally identified by National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR)-supported scientist Daniel Haber, M.D., Ph.D. at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), which make them especially responsive to the drug. With this approval, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients whose tumors have EGFR mutations now have three personalized treatment options. 

It was Dr. Haber’s landmark research in 2004 that first identified the specific EGFR mutations that predict which patients will have a positive response to Iressa. In making its ruling, the FDA cites a recent clinical trial, which directly credits Dr. Haber’s research as instrumental in its success. One of the landmark achievements of the era of precision medicine was the effort to solve the puzzle of the drug Iressa. Why did only 13% of patients respond well to the drug? How could we screen for this small group of patients? These critical questions needed to be answered to unlock the true power of this drug – matching it with the patients who would most benefit. 

This breakthrough discovery not only helps to tailor Iressa to the right cancer patients, it also has profound indication in guiding the usage of other drugs, such as Tarceva, which also works by blocking EGFR. It is an illustration of targeted therapy in the new age of precision medicine. Research being done by scientists such as Dr. Haber and his team has expanded the work on identifying genetic lesions across multiple cancer types. Another example of how we are all in this together.

 

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