UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center

Customizing Therapies for Specific Tumors

Christine Bestvina, MD, and lung cancer patient, Kevin Sachs
Medical oncologist Christine Bestvina, MD, specializes in lung cancer treatment and is actively researching new and better ways to treat the disease.

There are now treatments specifically designed to target those parts of cancer cells which cause uncontrolled growth and spread. They are sometimes referred to as molecular-targeted drugs because they focus on specific changes that occur inside cells when they become cancerous. These “targeted therapies” may be used alone, or in specific cases, after surgery.

Common targeted therapies for patients with non-small cell lung cancer include:

  • Tyrosine kinase inhibitors block enzymes needed for cancer cell growth. For example, the drug osimertinib targets the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) gene. When the EGFR gene is mutated and overactive, it allows cancer cells to grow quickly. 

    The identification of mutations is expanding and now includes: EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, MET, RET, and NTRK. The mutations KRAS and HER2 are under investigation.
  • Angiogenesis inhibitors work in different ways to halt cancer. For example, researchers discovered that cutting off a tumor’s blood supply is one way to kill cancer cells. The drug bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody and angiogenesis inhibitor, stops cancer cells from developing new blood vessels to support their growth.

Request an Appointment

We are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, leading to delayed response times. For faster assistance, please call 1-855-702-8222 to schedule your appointment.

If you have symptoms of an urgent nature, please call your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

For Referring Physicians

To refer a patient for lung cancer care, please call UCM Physician Connect at 1-800-824-2282

 

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By submitting this form you acknowledge the risk of sending this information by email and agree not to hold the University of Chicago or University of Chicago Medical Center liable for any damages you may incur as a result of the transfer or use of this information. The use or transmittal of this form does not create a physician-contact relationship. More information regarding the confidentiality of this request can be found in our Privacy Policy.