Researchers Thrilled: Could This be the Greatest Cancer Breakthrough Yet?

Teresa Neumann : Nov 21, 2013
Nick Collins – The Telegraph

On discovery of cancer's "Achilles Heel," Dr. Shokat of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute says, "Cancers driven by ras are the most difficult to treat. Dr. Shokat and his team have taken a brilliantly innovative approach and have developed a strategy for targeting a mutant for of ras with exquisite specificity."

(San Francisco, CA)—Multiple reports indicate that a gene called K-Ras, the most commonly mutated gene found in human cancers, but which has evaded treatment for several decades, might finally "be conquered."

Some are calling it the discovery of cancer's "Achilles Heel." Researcher Kevan Shokat of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of California, San Francisco, described the rogue gene as "The Everest of cancer mutations." Either way, the real possibility of new therapies in cancer treatment/prevention is reportedly on the horizon.

"We are very excited," said Shokat. "Cancers caused by the ras gene are particularly fast growing and spreading, and difficult to treat. They include many pancreatic, lung and bowel cancers…"

Dr. Frank McCormick, leader of a US government initiative to tackle the ras gene agreed. "Cancers driven by ras are the most difficult to treat. Dr. Shokat and his team have taken a brilliantly innovative approach and have developed a strategy for targeting a mutant for of ras with exquisite specificity."