A new drug for treating a certain type of lung cancer has shown to have great promise.
The is called crizotinib (Xalkori), manufactured by Pfizer and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The medication is taken twice a day in capsule form. Patients that are treated have a unique gene that has an abnormal anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). The gene causes cancer growth. Sixty percent of patients had significant shrinkage within 10 months. The drug works by blocking the proteins from the ALK gene. The FDA approved a screening test for the gene by Abbott Laboratories. Patients that have the gene would be prescribe the medication. Some side effects from the crizotinib were vision disorders, nausea and edema.
Patient Wigbels partook in the study and his cancer had spread to his throat where he couldn't eat. After taking the drug for a week he was able to eat and scans showed he no longer had tumors.
Another patient Richard Heimler who had a lung removed 7 -years-ago and had tumors in his brain and the other lung. He started taking crizotinib 15 months ago and tumors had disappeared, shrunk and are stabled.
Francis, E. & Besser, R, M.D. (August 30, 2011). New Lung Cancer Pill Highlights Improved Wayof Treating Patients. Retrieved September 2, 2011, from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/lung-cancer-pill-crizotinib-highlights-improved-iding-treating/story?id=14414833
Johnson, L. (August 30, 2011). Pfizer: New cancer pill gives hope, new strategy. Retrieved September 2, 2011, from http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hUxz0RjY3uhYDQ_TORVzazkIsIRA?docId=07bdbea54c0c47fa8aa3676895fe59d2
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