how does cancer return back more aggresively after treatment?
In: 17
It’s not so much aggressive as less inhibited.
For any given tumor type, there are bio markers associated with the tumor that serve as either indicators of treatment response or targets for killing the cancer cells. For example, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be labeled as ROS1+ or ALK+, either of which may require different treatment.
Now, if we are using a treatment that specifically hits marker A, we may see tumor shrinkage or remission. But, what if some of marker A is left and allowed to reestablish. Marker A is probably going to develop some resistance to that compound, meaning further use of that drug will either be less effective, require a different drug, or require an added drug.
Then, we run into the issues of adding drugs! More drugs is going to have a heightened effect in the body, and coupled with the already abnormal environment with the cancer, it leads to furthering sickness.
In cancer research, we don’t see a lot of studies trying to improve on a drug’s efficacy. Most of them are trying to get close to existing drug’s efficacy with a goal of minimizing adverse events (safety before efficacy).
Latest Answers