Question ID: WS-128
Submitted by: Robert Giuntoli
May 14, 2012
Why haven’t we won the war on cancer? Background: In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared war on cancer. Despite significant investment in conducting this conflict, we have failed to eradicate this disease. While our understanding of the biology of cancer has improved exponentially, many breakthrough treatments have failed to live up to expectations and screening tests such as mammograms and prostate specific antigen have been called into question. There are notable exceptions with great strides occurring in the treatment of a limited number of cancers. What makes an advanced testicular cancer different from an advanced ovarian cancer? Feasibility: The ability of a particular malignancy to evade a certain treatment most likely lies in molecular differences specific to that cancer type. By using techniques such as micro arrays, the genetic alterations between cancers can be compared and variations between cancer types can be identified. Implications: The recognition of specific genetic alterations associated with poor prognosis malignancies would allow for several avenues of improvement in cancer care. Initially, these alterations may provide the basis of screening tests for the cancer in question. As our experience grows, exploitation of these differences may well hold the key to the reversal of resistance to a specific therapy.
| This question has not yet been evaluated by users |
Comments
