Docs rely on target drugs to manage cancer

Gangaram has also helped a 32-year-old conserve a part of her breast,through this option.

“There are 50-odd gene mutations for which targeted drugs are available. We profile tumours for gene mutations for three purposes. It helps in the precise diagnosis of cancer in genetic terms,which in turn helps us design a personalised treatment regimen for the patient,” says Dr Shyam Aggarwal,senior consultant (Oncology) at Gangaram.

He adds that in case of metastasis,where the cancer has spread to several parts of the body,these drugs can help manage the disease better,by eliminating painful treatment procedures.

“Some patients may not need chemotherapy,and even among those who do,the dosage requirement differs,” he says.

According to experts,in cases of adenocarcinoma (lung cancer),for instance,if a patient is diagnosed with an EGFR gene mutation,targeted drugs can help eliminate the need for chemotherapy. In certain blood cancers,like the Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia,patients diagnosed with the Ableson gene mutation can manage with three targeted drugs in 90-95 per cent cases.

Genetic profiling of tumours,doctors say,also goes a long way in treating hereditary cancers.

Doctors are now testing genes from index,or first cases in the family,for hereditary gene mutations,to provide timely treatment to other family members.

With limited labs providing these diagnostic facilities,experts say technology has to catch up with knowledge for the treatment be used more widely,and become cost effective.

Dr Ravi Gaur,VP-Operations of Dabur Oncquest,one of the few labs which provides this facility,says: “The treatment is in its nascent stages in India. We get requests only from select high-end oncologists,say about 25-30 cases a month. Unfortunately,there is no Indian data to establish the co-relation between genetic mutations and these drugs. So,treatment is primarily on the basis of Western data.”

He adds that no government hospitals has sent any requests so far.

“It is a new treatment and a very expensive one. There is a long way to go before it becomes identified as the new protocol for cancer management. Ethnic variations within the Indian population,and the corresponding responses to drugs need to be researched before jumping to conclusions,” says a senior specialist from AIIMS.