Cancer and Effectiveness of Drugs in Its Treatment - Essay Example

Cancer – effectiveness of drugs in its treatment Among the modern day diseases cancer might be termed as the deadliest and a disease that even a few years earlier killed the patient psychologically even before killing his body. Time has changed now; radiotherapy, chemotherapy, operation in certain cases and medicine are now leading a hard battle against this disease (ÍTÍK, Uymaz, Stephen, and BANKS, 715). Before moving into details regarding the efficiency of drugs combating cancer, it would be better if a brief and clear overview of the disease can be obtained. In most simple terms cancer is an uncontrolled growth of cells that might happen at any place of the body. If an association has been drawn between tumour and cancer; then a benign tumour has no relation with cancer but a malignant tumour sooner or later leads to cancer. Scientific research has revealed that genetic predisposition, oestrogen exposure for women, ionising and ultraviolet radiation, exposure to carcinogenic chemicals and foods, smoking tobacco, taking alcohol, unhealthy diet and presence of free radicals are some of the causes that are believed to be spreading this deadly disease among us. Since prevention is always considered as a better option to cure, hence a series of events that might result in lower risk of getting exposed to cancer should also be taken account of. Taking notice of previous cases of cancer in a family does not directly translate into the same for the successors, but they can resort to regular check up to avoid any late detection of cancer. It has been found that probability of cancer among a woman having baby before 35 is less. Reduction of exposure to sun or other rays such as X – rays and using protective cloths while facing them is a helpful mean to reduce the chances of this disease. Absolute no to tobacco and alcohol will certainly result in less number of cancer cases. Taking vitamin C and green vegetables also help to reduce the risk of cancer. Among the different types of cancer treatments six of them have gained popularity and success over the years. The following paragraph provides a brief discussion of these alternatives before moving into a detailed analysis of drug use in combating cancer. Since chemotherapy also uses drugs to combat cancer, hence for this part it is left beyond the realm of the discussion. Radiation is used vividly against cancer. Ionised radiation destroys cancer cells and prevents them from further growing. When surgery is adopted s a possible cure to cancer, the cancerous cells or parts are surgically removed from the body. In recent times laser is often used to perform these surgeries replacing the conventional method that had been followed before. As it has been found that certain hormones are responsible for the growth of cancerous cells in body, hence doctors often resorts to hormone therapy to bring back the balance within the body that will eventually stop the growth of malignant cancerous cells. Recently a more radical way to fight cancer is in discussion and followed at some places as well. This is known as Biological or Immunotherapy where the inherent immune system of the body is reinforced so that it can prevent the cancerous infection or fight back this deadly disease. Some doctors have even moved a step further to consider medical disciplines like homeopathy and acupuncture as a possible solution to this life taking disease (“What is Cancer?”). After the brief discussion of various other means to combat cancer let us concentrate of the possibilities of drugs to prevent cancer. The most widely known use of drugs against cancer is chemotherapy. In chemotherapy specific drugs are used that destroys cancer cells by putting an end to their immense growth rate. It is given to the patient either through intravenous injections or through oral medicines. It follows a cyclic pattern and often the patient is given rest for sometime after the administration of a specific course of medicine. Uses of anti cancer drugs have their own limitations. First of all since it stops the division of cancerous cells by directly affecting the DNA synthesis of the concerned cells; it might well end up affecting non-cancerous cells as well. The degree of such affection determines the consequent catastrophes the patients are going to face. Loss of hair and appetite, lips and mouth ulcers, nausea, frequent vomiting and disturbed bowels are very common form of side affects that a patient might suffer. At the worst infection in blood resulting in frequent blood clotting and even bleeding is not an unusual event for a cancer patient taking drugs against cancer through chemotherapy. (“What is Cancer?”) Considering these side effects that anti cancer drugs through chemotherapy holds against the patient, scientists have developed new form anti cancerous drugs that are less harmful considering the side effects and more effective. This gains momentum following the fact that more than 3 lakhs American woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Tamoxifen a hormonal drug has a proven track record to push away cancer for five years and if followed with letrozole a similar kind of drug after five years can display excellent improvement and might even permanent cure. However these drugs are now a story of the old days and constant research by big pharmaceutical companies has evolved some excellent drugs against cancer that are capable of delivering good result. The primary objective of all these researches with anti cancer drugs is to find the weakest link of the cancerous cells and most of these new drugs either target the kinases enzyme that controls the growth rate of cells and others are monoclonal antibodies experts in identifying and destroying the cancer cells. These new forms of drugs also cut the blood flow that provides nutrition to the tumour and males it ineffective from spreading further. Novartis has made a ground breaking discovery through the production of Gleevec that can fight back chronic myeloid leukaemia through destroying tyrosine kinase; the cell protein behind further reproduction of the concerned cancer cells. This drug has almost 95% success rate and its success has initiated a flury of smilar and even improved drugs of similar nature namely Zometa, Sandostatin LAR and Femara. (Jones) In recent times a group of scientists belonging to different national origin has developed an anti cancer drug that is 200 times more powerful in killing cancerous cells and tumors. This particular drug belongs to the roup of bisphosphonates that was originally meant for the patients suffering from osteoporosis. Eventually it was found that that these drugs are capable of fighting cancer cells and very effective to boost the immune system of the body. A culmination of bisphosphonates with other set of enzymes like FPPS and GGPPS would turn it more helpful and effective in killing cancerous cells. Zoledronate a drug of the mentioned group fared excellent in curing breast cancer. Use of Zoledroae has other benefits as well as it encourages the production of T- cells that are also effective in killing cancer cells. BPH-715 another recently found compound has proven its excellence in restricting the growth of tumor. (Zhang et al.) Some other extremely useful drugs that are providing its merit against fighting back cancer are Tasocitinib and Tivozanib. Tivozanib hinders or destroys the Kinase and prevents the cancer cell from multiplying (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 11311). The medicine is given orally to the patients. Tivozanib again restricts the formation of new blood that happens rapidly within a patient’s body suffering from blood cancer. This suspension on the creation of new blood cells in a cancer affected patients body put a tap on further deterioration and administers a healing effect on the same. The mentioned drug with some other chemotherapy agents treats many other forms of cancers such as renal, colorectal and intestine cancer. Similar to Tivozanib, Tasocitinib is another much acclaimed drug against cancer. Alike Tivozanib, Tasocitinib is also orally given to the patients. AC220 a drug that has been used mainly against blood cancer nowadays has delivered good response. The success of AC220 has come from its inherent capacity to tame the creation of new blood cell at a rapid rate. AT-7515 has already proven its effectiveness in prohibiting growth of tumor. PF-431396 is another effective drug against cancer. (Willem) Nano level cancer combating drugs have also been on the table of discussion for long and it seems that in future they might offer a viable option to the patients and doctors alike to avail. (Development Of Nano-Level Cancer Combatant Drug For Chemotherapy, Lim 2272) So far the discussion has revealed the potential even the real effectiveness of drugs against combating cancer. But they have been severely criticised on the ground of the immense cost they come with. According to experts they don’t really confer any real benefit to the patients apart from lingering their life. (Johnston) These drugs are no doubt less toxic then those that were previously used for chemotherapy; and more effective as well, yet the staggering cost that they imposes on the patient or their family is beyond the capability of normal person. According to estimates some of these drugs costs well over $100000 a year for a single patient. Australia has imposed a restriction on the newly invented medicines on the basis of cost evaluation with relation to the medical gains resulting from its intake (Jones; Chim, Kelly, Salkeld & Stockler, 463) The above discussion reveals the fact that drugs can be effective means in combating cancer, but the research and development regarding the same is still at a nascent stage. A lot of political economy is involved into this issue that the pharmaceutical corporate are trying to take advantage of. A closer monitoring from the government and research directed towards keeping the price of these medicines at a manageable level might hold the future key for freedom from cancer. References 1. Jones, Ronald, New breed of drugs offers hope in cancer war, MSNBC, 2004. web. May 8, 2011 2. Development Of Nano-Level Cancer Combatant Drug For Chemotherapy, Just Cancer, 2009. Web. May 8, 2011 < Development Of Nano-Level Cancer Combatant Drug For Chemotherapy> 3. Chim, Leslie, Kelly, Patrick, Salkeld, Glenn & Martin R. Stockler, “Are Cancer Drugs Less Likely to be Recommended for Listing by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee in Australia?”, PharmacoEconomics, (2010) 28.6, p463-475 4. Johnston, Ian, “NHS denies effective cancer drugs due to cost”, The Independent, 2008. Web. May 8, 2011 < http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-denies-effective-cancer-drugs-due-to-cost-888385.html> 5. Lim, Chwee Teck, CBME2008 - 13th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering, December 3 - 6, 2008, Singapore, Springer, 2009. Print. 6. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Genetic Engineering of Viruses and Viral Vectors, National Academies Press, 1996. Print. 7. Zhang et al. Lipophilic Bisphosphonates as Dual Farnesyl/Geranylgeranyl Diphosphate Synthase Inhibitors: An X-ray and NMR Investigation. Journal of the American Chemical Society, (2009) 131.14, 5153–5162 8. ÍTÍK, Mehmet Uymaz, Metin Stephen, SALAMCI^, and Paul BANKS, “SDRE optimal control of drug administration in cancer treatment”, Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences, (2010), 18.5, p715-729 9. Willem, Lisa, “Tivozanib an Effective Drug to Combat Cancer”, Ezinearticles, 2006. Web. May 8, 2011 10. “What is Cancer?”, Cancer Center, 2011. Web. May 8, 2011 Read More