Attacking cancer stem cells a way to treat cancer

A new cancer treatment is on the horizon since scientists made a breakthrough discovery in the understanding of how tumor cells grow.

The basis of the treatment is that a tiny portion of cancer cells, which have been named cancer stem cells, is the cause of the malignant nature of tumors. It is still controversial, but as more research trickles in many oncologists who were skeptical in the past have converted their views.

The new therapy will be pioneered by Oncomed, a startup company attempting to use these techniques to create a drug for cancer treatment. Oncomed hopes to file for an investigational drug application within two months, and to begin human trials by the end of the year.

"We think it's going to be very possible to develop safe and effective agents targeting cancer stem cells, based on the work we've already achieved to date," said John Lewicke, Oncomed's vice president of research and development.

If the theory behind Oncomed's products is correct, these researchers may be on the verge of ending cancer as we know it. Currently, most cancer is treated by attempting to kill the great mass of cells in a tumor, and hope that this will stop its spread. If it is only cancer stem cells that drive the growth of tumors, then if these cells are targeted the cancer will be destroyed.

"I think cancer stem cells are a new burgeoning field," Nora Disis, a professor of oncology at the University of Washington and deputy editor of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. "People are studying them in multiple ways, not only pluripotent stem cells as the cause of cancer, but looking at them as the cause chemo resistance."
Although Oncomed has carried out animal trials with a degree of success, Paul Hastings (Oncomed's CEO) is cautiously optimistic, noting that success in animal trials is no guarantee of success in human trials.

"At the end of the day, what most people care about is: when we put these drugs into humans, will it have an impact?" said Hastings.

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