Aug 26, 2010

Skin cancer pill shows 'remarkable' results

In almost 80 per cent of people treated with the experimental drug, tumours were significantly reduced in size.

Last night one British skin cancer specialist hailed the development as "very promising".

The drug, PLX4032, works by inhibiting a 'faulty' gene that constantly activates a protein which drives cell division and hence tumour growth.

Of 48 patients treated in the American and Australian study who had the faulty 'BRAF' gene, 37 saw their tumours shrink significantly.

In three cases the patients' tumours disappeared altogether.

By comparison dacarbazine, a chemotherapy drug which is often given to treat melanoma, only has a response rate of five to 15 per cent.

Just over 10,000 people are diagnosed with malignant melanoma every year in Britain. It is most dangerous form of skin cancer - which is triggered by excessive exposure to sunlight - as it has the potential to spread.

If spotted quickly enough chances of survival are good, but if left unchecked and it spreads the prognosis is often poor. Almost 2,000 die of malignant melanoma annually.

As the BRAF gene is present in between 40 and 60 per cent of patients with the disease, the new drug could help thousands.

Read more at The Telegraph

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