A better way to target tumors
In the past 40 years, scientists have learned a great deal about how cells become cancerous. Some of that knowledge has translated to new treatments, but most of the time doctors are forced to rely on standard chemotherapy and radiation, which can do nearly as much damage to the patients as they do to the tumors. This series looks at targeted treatments that are on the horizon, and what needs to be done to make them a reality.In 2004, the drug company AstraZeneca launched a clinical trial for a new type of lung-cancer drug. The drug, called gefitinib, interferes with EGFR, a molecule that abounds on the surface of many cancer cells. Overactive EGFR (epithelial growth factor receptor) helps tumor cells divide uncontrollably.Although gefitinib had shown promise in earlier studies, this time the results were disappointing: Most patients did not live longer. The drug was taken off the market, though...