colon cancer symptom : Are there any new developments in treating my disease?

New drugs are being developed that enhance the tumor-killing ability of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These drugs can work in a variety of ways but often enhance the normal cell-killing processes within the body.

Drugs are being developed to stop angiogenesis—that is, the formation of new blood vessels that nourish the cancerous tumor. This can produce tumor shrinkage or prevent disease spread.

Immunotherapy enhances the body's immune system and increases the likelihood that the colorectal cancer cells will be killed.

Monoclonal antibodies are proteins produced in a laboratory that can identify a cancer cell for destruction or prevent the tumor cell from dividing.

Vaccines are being developed that may cause the body to produce more antibodies to kill cancer cells.

Gene therapy involves altering genetic material. Either a new gene is introduced to enhance the ability of the body to kill cancer cells or a gene is administered directly to the cancer cells, causing them to die. Getting the gene to the right cells in the body is a major challenge. The treatment is still experimental and in its early stages of development.

Copyright © 2006 Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (RSNA)