New Approach to Predict Mesothelioma Drug Response
In the ongoing worldwide effort to find better treatments for mesothelioma cancer, a group of Italian doctors believe they have a better way of determining which patients will respond to a cancer medication called Gefitinib. A cell protein called Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase is overexpressed in the cells of certain types of cancers, including mesothelioma. EGFR overexpression can cause uncontrolled cell replication and faster tumor growth. As an effective EGRF inhibitor, Gefitinib can sometimes help stop that uncontrolled growth. But the treatment doesn’t work as well in all patients. In a study published in the Public Library of Science, the Italian researchers say the presence of estrogen and estrogen receptors may help determine which mesothelioma patients need Gefitinib most. …