Personalized medicine of targeted anti-cancer drugs

Abstract

Medicine is becoming more and more tailored and that certainly applies to therapies for cancer. The researcher has looked at the genetic profile of the individual and the individual variation in exposure to the drug to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. His field of interest are some molecularly targeted anti-cancer drugs. These drugs, which in recent years have become more important in the treatment of cancer, are often used in a standard dosage. The study shows that there is great variation in exposure to the drug, so treatment is not optimal or that there are serious side effects. Klumpen showed that side effects sometimes predict the efficacy of the drug. The side effects can help determine an individual dose. Furthermore, the researcher studied in two groups of patients (leukemia and kidney cancer) to see if the genetic makeup of the patient affects the absorption and the (in-) activity of anti-cancer drugs. The study shows that there are clues to the basis of the patient's genetic profile to predict side effects. Klumpen also looked at a new branch of the anti-cancer drugs derived from rapamycin. This protein, discovered in lichens on Easter Island, is responsible for cell division. By inhibition of this protein, the cell division, can be inhibited in some cases. He presents the effect of rapamycin inhibitor with which the doctor can tailor treatment to individual patients. He also looks at combination of these inhibitor with other anti-cancer drugs to enhance the effectiveness of treatment with rapamycin inhibitors