Gene-Based Cancer Treatment Advances

The day of cancer treatments tailored to people’s genetic makeup is moving closer, the Associated Press reported February 16. Last month, the nation’s cancer doctors adopted a change in how colon cancer is treated. People with advanced colon cancer now are supposed to get a genetic test. This will show whether they can benefit from two leading treatments. These drugs, Erbitux and Vectibix, are costly. And they don’t work in 4 out of 10 patients. Researchers are targeting breast and lung cancer next. Studies are under way to find out whether genetic tests can help to decide on treatment for these cancers.