New treatment for skin cancer

On August 17, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially approved the drug Zelboraf (vemurafenib) in the treatment of terminal cancer patients (unable to remove the malignant tumors). calculated by surgery method).

Zelboraf is a special remedy used to treat patients with melanoma. The drug will affect a mutant gene called BRAF V600E . This type of gene occurs in most patients who have metastatic cancer. Zelboraf is a BRAF inhibitor that can be used to prevent the activity of mutated BRAF proteins.

New hope for people with skin cancer.

In a previous study, Professor Richard Marais from the Institute of Cancer Research, who demonstrated the role of BRAF gene in relation to malignant tumors, evaluated: 'This is a breakthrough in treating cancer. Letters over the past 30 years' and are 'great strides in this area'.

The FDA approved the drug based on a trial study of 675 patients with skin cancer. To date, research is still ongoing. However, initial results showed that 77% of patients who took Zelboraf still survived for 6 months, while the rate in chemotherapy as well as other drugs was only 64%.

According to FDA, the most common side effects for patients who use the drug are joint pain, rash, hair loss, fatigue, nausea, or skin sensitivity when exposed to the sun.

Zelboraf has been distributed mainly in the South San Francisco market by Genentech, the world's leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical company, under Roche Group.

Malignant tumors are the leading cause of death. According to the National Cancer Institute, among 68,130 people diagnosed with melanoma in 2010, about 8,700 people died of this cancer. According to Professor Peter Johnson, clinical specialist, the Center for British Cancer Research, these treatments are truly effective and practical.

The success of this study somewhat motivated experts to help patients fight this dangerous skin cancer .