Cancer breakthrough: Drugs target specific genes

It's big news in the fight against cancer: Two new studies report dramatic progress in treating advanced melanoma and lung cancer.

Both of these treatments use an approach that is creating a lot of excitement among doctors --tailoring drugs to the genetic makeup of individual patients, and the results can be remarkable, as CBS News correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports.

In 2007, Bill Schuette was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Seven different chemotherapies failed. He was told nothing more could be done.

"I basically was looking at going to -- go home and make arrangements," he said.

But then he heard about something new: an experimental drug that targets a certain type of lung cancer based on its genetic makeup. Tests showed he was a candidate.

His rare form of non-small-cell lung cancer has a genetic mutation called ALK that fuels cancer growth. The new drug, Crizotinib, works by blocking this abnormal gene, causing tumors to shrink.

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"One of the first things they'll tell me is ... they feel so much better after starting on the drug and the feel so much better than they ever did when they were on chemotherapy," said Dr. Alice Shaw of Massachusetts General Hospital.

In preliminary results presented over the weekend, 55 percent of patients were alive after two years, more than four times the usual survival rate.

The drug only works for the 4 percent of patients with this kind of lung cancer. That may not sound like much, but doctors say this is the future for all cancers -- finding treatments that may work for only a fraction of patients, but that work very well.

Schuette is recovering. "I'm able to get back on the bike, I'm swimming, walking and hiking and I'm hoping to do my first major ride here in September," he said.

[angelamimi]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF THIS IS FOR SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER PATIENTS IN THE ADVANCED STAGE!!! NOT GETTING ANY STRAIGHT ANSWER ....JUST PLEASE TELL ME YES OR NO!!! THANK YOU !!!

[jahamlin]

My father died from lung cancer and we did everything to fight but the battle was lost. But now my sister in law is battling it now and on her 3rd round of chemo. Can anyone tell me how we get ahold of this to see if she is a candidate Please!!!

[antoniof123]

I have friend who is a research scientist he is a PHd and MD very smart. Works on cures for cancer and is being told that there is a lack of funding.

So this is a good sign maybe they will fund more on reseach instead of on profit.

[rwsmith29456]

I'm cautious about 'studies' but I think this is worth getting excited about and I hope this can go on to help many people.

[erasmus111]

"But then he heard about something new..."


So if he hadn't been doing research, he would be dead now. Why hadn't his doctors heard about it? Why aren't new findings posted somewhere, and why aren't doctors keeping up with them?

[MalloryDavis]

Why don't you shut?

[bobnjersey]

[But then he heard about something new: an experimental drug that targets a certain type of lung cancer based on its genetic makeup.]
-----------------------------------------
and then ... he heard that his very own genetic makeup was patented ... by someone else ... and he'd have to pay royalties to have his own disease ... also patented ... cured.

[Stevie851]

It's about bloody time.