New Cancer Treatments, Research Paper Example

In their article, Diaz and Leon review new cancer treatments that focus on targeting cancer stem cells (CSC-s). While the therapy is not tested and completely developed yet, the authors state that based on screening the cells, it is possible to target individual cells. If the therapy is possible, it means that patients who currently suffer from cancer and undergo chemotherapy will no longer need to face tissue and organ damage that is caused by radiation. The below review will analyze the findings of the research article to determine the feasibility of the proposed therapy for cancer patients.

The authors propose a development of molecular-targeted therapies that only attack cancer stem cells, and do not affect healthy cells. Research is currently in process to find and isolate SCS cell populations. Several markers have already been identified, such as the CD133, and the CD44. As the authors (Diaz and Leon, 3335) confirm, the main problem with current therapies is that “CSC resist classical therapeutic

interventions, such as cytotoxic chemotherapies or radiotherapy-induced cell killing”, and this means that new therapies need to be developed that are effective on CSC, and minimize their resistance. Indeed, CSC cells can repair their DNA better than non-CSC-s.  The authors suggest that “new therapies should be oriented towards the eradication of the minority population of CSC, instead of the rapidly dividing but terminally differentiated cells, which constitute the bulk of the tumor” (Diaz and Leon, 3338). Still, the article concludes that targeted therapies should not be introduced until their impact on healthy cells and side effects have been fully examined.

In conclusion, the therapy seems to be promising, however, further extensive research is needed in order to clearly identify markers for SCS-s, and develop safe, effective interventions.

Works Cited

Diaz, A. and Leon, K. “Therapeutic Approaches to Target Cancer Stem Cells” Cancers 2011, 3, 2011. Print.