The targeted cancer treatment trastuzmab (Herceptin®) is used to treat breast cancer with elevated levels of a growth factor receptor, ErbB2. A major problem with Herceptin® treatment is the development of drug resistanct. New research has identified a major culprit in the development of this resistance, the first oncogene discovered, a kinase called Src. The Src protein (named after the sarcomas it was found to cause) was found to be involved in several different resistance pathways.
New research shows that drug resistance can be overcome by blocking the activity of Src. The dual inhibition was able to inhibit cancer cells both in cell culture and in animal models of cancer. The discovery opens up the possibility of targeting or preventing this form of drug resistance in patients.
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