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Genetic aberration paves the way for new cancer treatment
Researchers from the faculty of health and medical sciences at the Univeristy of Copenhagen have characterized a genetic aberration on a group of colorectal cancer patients.
The discovery gives hope for a new and efficient treatment of colorectal cancer, which is a frequently and often fatal disease.
“Our new research shows, that we might be able to introduce a treatment faster and cheaper than usual in the development of cancer treatment, and we estimate that it will be efficient in around 10 per cent of patients with colorectal cancer,” says MD and PhD student Sune Nygård, Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen.
In the new study the researchers have shown that around 10 per cent of colorectal cancer patients harbor an aberration in the gene called TOP2A in their cancer cells. These tumors could potentially benefit from treatment with a specific chemotherapeutic drug – a so-called “anti-TOP2A treatment”, which is already used in breast cancer patients with this gene aberration.
“If the first treatment doesn’t cure a patient with colorectal cancer, the possibilities of additional treatment are limited,” says Nils Brünner, MD, professor at University of Copenhagen. “Therefore it is very important to find a new, efficient treatment,” he adds.
The research group from the Department of Veterinary Disease Biology and professor Per Pfeiffer at Odense University Hospital have received funds from The Danish Cancer Society to initiate a clinical trial. Here it will be tested, if patients with the TOP2A gene defect could benefit from the targeted anti-TOP2A treatment.
“It is unique to go from a discovery in the laboratory towards a treatment for cancer patients at this pace. This is only possible when researchers and doctors work closely together,” says Nils Brünner, University of Copenhagen.
Source: Medicon Valley
Published: November 11, 2013
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