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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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 OPINION 
2

New Class of Drugs Could Revolutionize Cancer Treatment

PARP inhibitors show potential to transform understanding of cancer

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(Newser) – A new class of drugs in development represents the biggest cancer breakthrough in a decade, Robert Bazell writes at NBC. In a study causing much excitement in the medical world, breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer patients treated with Olaparib, one of a group of drugs known as PARP inhibitors, had their tumors shrink or vanish, often without the punishing side effects caused by other cancer treatments.

The study was small, Bazell writes, but it built on nearly 20 years of research into PARP inhibitors, which make cancer cells unable to repair themselves. The drugs look set to save thousands of life in the short term, Bazell writes, and, as more trials proceed, could lead to "a transformational approach to understanding and treating several forms of the disease" in the long term.

New research on PARP inhibitors is being hailed as the biggest cancer breakthrough in a decade.
New research on PARP inhibitors is being hailed as the biggest cancer breakthrough in a decade.   (Shutter Stock)
In clinical trials, patients being treated with PARP inhibitors avoided some of the unpleasant side effects that other cancer treatments cause.
In clinical trials, patients being treated with PARP inhibitors avoided some of the unpleasant side effects that other cancer treatments cause.   (Shutter Stock)
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The story of the PARP inhibitors is fine example of how research can move from the laboratory bench to the bedside, and it also shows how long and difficult journey can be. - Robert Bazell

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2 comments
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psycada
Jun 25, 09 11:13 AM CDT
Hmmm...Too bad that didn't study cannabinoids. Killing the cells is one thing, getting them to eat themselves is just bad ass(autophagy). Reply
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ack
Jun 25, 09 1:43 PM CDT
Autophagy? Hmm... off to Google.
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