Sutent benefits over half of trial patients

A new pill that targets several molecules implicated in the growth of cancer has shown promise in combating gastrointestinal tumors that no longer respond to the targeted drug Gleevec, according to a study led by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

In a Phase II trial, SU11248 showed clinical benefit in 65 percent of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that have developed resistance to Gleevec. Approved in 2002, Gleevec blocks a specific mutated growth signal that makes GIST tumors highly aggressive and untreatable except through repeated surgeries.

Full text at: http://www.dana-farber.org/abo/news/pressarchive/060804.asp

Last changed: Apr 23 2006 at 3:08 PM