Experimental drug may treat lung cancer

A newly developed experimental drug has shown promising results in treating lung cancer, the leading cause of malignancy-related deaths in the world.

Small cell lung cancer tumors, a form of lung tumor with low survival rate, cannot be treated with surgery as they spread so fast in the body.

Despite their early response to chemotherapy with or without radiation, they soon become resistant to treatment and grow back rapidly.

Previous studies had reported that a growth hormone called FGF-2 is responsible for the fast proliferation of small cell lung cancer tumor cells as well as their drug resistance.

According to the study published in Cancer Research, PD173074 can not only kill small cell lung cancer tumors but also stop tumors from growing and becoming resistant to treatment.

PD173074 blocks the receptor via which FGF-2 attaches to tumoral cells, inhibiting the proliferation of the cells and making way for them to be killed with standard chemotherapy drugs.

The combination of PD173074 and the common chemotherapy agent cisplatin was reported to slow down tumor growth significantly faster than either drug on its own.

Scientists are optimistic that their findings will help the development of new medication to fight lung cancer particularly small cell lung tumors in humans.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=111365§ionid=3510210.