Study on targeted medicines shows different front of cancer battle - from NPR & NewsWorks

Dr. Yael Mosse at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with patient Mya who is being treated for neuroblastoma, and is also one of the patients in the Children's Oncology Group trial. Mya is 2 ½ years old. (Photo courtesy of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)

Dr. Yael Mosse at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with patient Mya who is being treated for neuroblastoma, and is also one of the patients in the Children's Oncology Group trial. Mya is 2 ½ years old. (Photo courtesy of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)

Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are reporting success with a new targeted anti-cancer therapy. Experts say the small study shows the ways doctors are fighting cancer differently.

For some conditions, there are now anti-cancer drugs that zero in on DNA-level miscues that allow cells to grow uncontrollably. A targeted medicine from drug-maker Pfizer Inc.has been successful in fighting a particular kind of adult lung cancer. Researchers thought the drug, called crizotinib, might also work in children against aggressive and uncommon types of lymphoma and neuroblastoma.
The researchers weren't sure what dose of medicine might work best, so as a first step, Children's Hospital oncologist Yael Mosse and the team signed up children in urgent need of another option.
"These are patients that, by the time the physician talks to them about a Phase 1 trial, it means there's no known cure. It means they've had all the best available treatment that we know of in the year 2012," Mosse said.
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