The book is written by the author of „The Molecular Revolution“ (Raider Publishing International), „From Quackery to Credibility“ (Financial Times Ltd.), „Beyond Blockbusters“ (Reuters Business Insight), „Direct-to-Consumer Advertising for Prescription Medicines“ (Financial Times Ltd.), „Mastering the Complexities of Women’s Health“ (Nicholas Hall & Co), „Targeted Cancer Therapies“ (Reuters Business Insight), and many more global medical community bestsellers. It says that scientists all over the world are coming up with treatments not imagined even a decade ago. In this new book on CANCER, Gilbert Mertens explains the developments in Cancer Therapies and focuses on innovative medicines and their impact on the future of oncology.
Currently, treatment for cancer depends on the type of cancer, tumor size, localization and stage of disease; and the person's general health. Advances in research have meant that treatment will depend less on cancer type (organ location, histology) and be more driven by molecular features, the author notes.
Innovatives are the most promising area for all cancers and may create the answer to reduced side effects associated with cancer treatment and have the vast potential of dramatically increasing disease free survival and overall survival rates. The promise behind innovative medicines and reduced side effects arises from the potential of specifically targeting cancer cells, thus avoiding killing normal healthy cells, a common problem associated with cytotoxics and anti-metabolites. There has been a clear move away from cytotoxics in favor of cytostatic drugs, which has been integral to the development of targeted cancer therapies. While traditional chemotherapy agents kill cancer cells by being cytotoxic, many new agents work mostly by interrupting their growth.
We will see new medicines that can offer significant extension in survival and, ideally, extended disease-free survival. We will see improved second-line treatments for patients who fail to respond to first-line treatments, or suffer a relapse after receiving first-line therapy. Improved diagnostic tests and appropriate tumor markers, which are critical to the future success of Cancer Therapies, will allow the new medicines to be appropriately targeted and therefore demonstrate cost-effectiveness for cancer patients.
The author describes the numerous emerging therapies and how they will create a targeted medicines sector and, in time, lead to the development of personalized cancer therapy programs.
