Radiation Drugs Hunt and Kill Cancer Cells

A new study involving an experimental drug showed improved survival in men with severe prostate cancer.

Researchers say the drug may become a new way to treat patients with other hard-to-reach or inoperable cancers.

The study tested a new kind of medicine called radiopharmaceuticals. These drugs deliver radiation directly to cancer cells. The drug in this case is a molecule¹ that contains two parts: one that hunts for the cancer cells and another that kills them.

Trillions of these molecules² hunt down cancer cells, then they are killed by radiation.

"You can treat tumors that you cannot see. Anywhere the drug can go, the drug can reach tumor³ cells," said Dr. Frank Lin. He works at the National Cancer Institute helping⁴ to develop such medicine but did not take part in the study.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology recently released the results of the study. The drug's maker⁵, Novartis, paid for the research. The company plans to seek approvals in the United States and Europe later this year.

When cancer is found only in the prostate, radiation can be directed onto or inside the body.

But those methods do not work well in more severe cases of prostate cancer. Each year, about 43,000 men in the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread and no longer responds to usual treatment.

The study involved 831 men with severe prostate cancer. Two-thirds were given the radiation drug, while the rest of the group were not. Patients received the drug every six weeks, up to six times.

After about two years, those who received the drug did better, on average. The cancer was controlled for nearly nine months compared to about three months for the others. Survival was better, too — about 15 months compared to 11 months.

The gain may not seem like much, but "these patients don't have many options," said Dr. Lori Pierce, president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Radioactivity can reduce blood cell production. That can lead to anemia⁶ and other blood problems for patients. In the study, 53 percent of the patients had serious side effects. That compares to 38 percent of patients who did not receive the drug. Both groups were permitted to get other treatments.

The results lead the way for government approval and will increase interest in radiation drugs, Lin said.

Xofigo, produced by drug maker Bayer, is approved for men whose prostate cancer has spread to the bone but not elsewhere. The drug targets areas where the body is trying to repair bone loss from tumor damage. But it is not directly aimed at prostate cancer cells, wherever they may be in the body.

Since the experimental drug targets tumor cells, "that would be a first for prostate cancer," Lin said.

In the next 10 years, such drugs will be a big part of cancer research, said Dr. Charles Kunos. He worked at the National Cancer Institute before joining the University of Kentucky's Markey Cancer Center. "It will be the next big wave of therapeutic⁷ development," he added.

Words in This Story

options – n. something that can be chosen; a choice or possibility

respond – v. to do something as a reaction to something that has happened or been done : to have a particular reaction to something

therapeutic - adj. producing good effects on your body or mind

tumor – n. a mass of tissue found in or on the body that is made up of abnormal cells

1 molecule   

n.分子，克分子

参考例句：

• A molecule of water is made up of two atoms of hygrogen and one atom of oxygen.一个水分子是由P妈̬f婘̬ 妈̬成的。
• This gives us the structural formula of the molecule.这种方式给出了分子的结构式。

2 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

3 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

6 anemia   

n.贫血，贫血症

参考例句：

• The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。
• I was put on iron tablets for my anemia.我曾因贫血吃补铁药片。

7 therapeutic   

adj.治疗的，起治疗作用的；对身心健康有益的

参考例句：

• Therapeutic measures were selected to fit the patient.选择治疗措施以适应病人的需要。
• When I was sad,music had a therapeutic effect.我悲伤的时候，音乐有治疗效力。