Cancer – Your Unwanted Neighbor

Cancer continues to be a major public health concern in the United States and across the globe. According to the National Cancer Institute, it is estimated that this year alone over 1,700,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and over 600,000 people will die from the disease. When comparing cancer mortality by sex, more men die from cancer than women. Furthermore, cancer mortality is the highest among African Americans. The four most common cancers are projected to be breast cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, prostate cancer, and colon and rectum cancer. So, one may ask what treatment options are available and is there room for improvement?

Traditional cancer treatment consists of radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy involves the use of high dose radiation to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors. Surgical treatment includes partial or complete removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue. Chemotherapy consists of using one or more anti-cancer drugs to cure the cancer, prolong life or reduce symptoms. Despite the many benefits of chemotherapeutic agents, some agents are DNA-directed. In other words, they lack the ability to distinguish between reproducing cells of normal tissues and cancer cells. Therefore, normal cells are sometimes damaged along with cancer cells resulting in a variety of side effects.

Challenges in the treatment of cancer has led to decades of research. Research insights have revealed the need for a more targeted approach to treating cancer. Thus, leading to the birth of “smart bombs”. These novel agents target other properties such as receptors and signaling, that distinguish cancer cells from normal cells. Although targeted cancer therapy may not be without side effects, they have helped to preserve normal cell functioning while effectively treating cancer cells. Targeted therapies are a major research focus as new treatments are needed to curtail cancer mortality rates.

Researchers must understand the impact of cancer on the population in order to develop strategies to address unmet needs. An essential but often excluded component is the patient perspective. The inclusion of a diverse patient population in all phases of clinical development will aid in understanding the burden of cancer. Although several pharmaceutical companies have already adopted new approaches to engage patients in the development process, the practice is still not commonplace to all companies.

As cancer continues to affect individuals and families throughout the nation, it is evident that we must continue to work diligently to combat the issue. Early detection, novel drug development, patient engagement and the extension of existing drug indications may assist in altering the future of cancer therapy to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients diagnosed with cancer.