A translational research success story
Richard Stone, MD (left), writes a Gleevec prescription for Victor Rutana to treat his chronic myelogenous leukemia. Gleevec has shown remarkable effectiveness against this disease.
At Dana-Farber and elsewhere, scientists are testing Gleevec in patients with other cancers, including prostate cancer and brain tumors. As remarkable as it is, the drug may not work against other kinds of cancer, says Druker. Another drawback is Gleevec's high cost of about $2,000 a month, a more vexing problem as new research results suggest that GIST patients may have to take Gleevec for the rest of their lives to keep tumors in check.
In any case, as an example of moving basic science into the arena of patient care, "Gleevec is a great success story," says Faye Austin, PhD, senior vice president for research at Dana-Farber. "It tells us this approach to developing new therapies works and is critical to pursue. We are trying to do this for many more basic science discoveries through our new programs of Chemical Biology and Experimental Medicine."
These two initiatives are aimed at helping DFCI scientists move laboratory findings into practical applications for patient care. This "translational research" is a critical part of Dana-Farber's mission to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients.
"Gleevec is a great success story. It tells us this approach to developing new therapies works and is critical to pursue."
— Faye Austin, PhD, senior vice president for research
That has been the result for Phyllis Carter, whose GIST tumors are in remission. The woman who was preparing to die last year says, "I'm so upbeat. I can go on with my life instead of being depressed. It's just wonderful."
Carter knows there's no guarantee that Gleevec's power will endure, and that, even if it does, she may have to take the drug indefinitely. If so, she may be among the first of many cancer patients who use new drugs to control, rather than cure, their cancer for years. "I've had a few side effects," she says, "but nothing I couldn't live with."
