How this approach to targeting treatment-resistant mutations can ensure your treatment works longer and more effectively…
How can you ensure your cancer treatment works as well as it can, for as long as it can?
Step 1: Get comprehensive Next-Generation Sequencing
Make sure that you’ve had thorough tumor DNA sequencing and tumor RNA sequencing. This way you can have confidence that you know all possible targets for treatment.
Step 2: Explore the use of “Off Target” Targeted Treatments
Ensure that your treatment team explores the use of “Off Target” targeted therapies to target treatment-resistant mutations.
In this video, our cancer expert, Alex Rolland, explains how we can use targeted drugs that would normally only be used to target other genes by looking at the mechanisms unique to each mutation and drug and matching them – in other words, by matching the drug mechanism to the mutation mechanism.
And, by the way, this is the same mechanism that helped Gail beat stage 4 cancer!
Watch the video:
Why is It So Important to Target Treatment-Resistant Mutations?
You see, there are two main issues that can get in the way of your treatment working:
A) Your initial sequencing panel missed mutations
Many patients who are on targeted therapies for mutations that were initially identified in a tumor DNA test often have treatment-resistant mutations at the start of treatment – mutations that their initial tumor DNA panel did not catch.
Note: This usually happens because the panel was too small, since the type of DNA testing that’s done at most hospitals and cancer agencies is usually limited to spot panels that look at just 20 genes or so. Or they do a small blood-based assay instead (like the Guardant 360 that looks at 80 genes) and these blood-based tests leave out some key details that tissue-based tests do not.
B) Treatment-resistant mutations developed after starting treatment
It is just as common for treatments that were working initially to stop working because the patient has developed treatment-resistant mutations.
There is Still A Lot of Hope
At this time in cancer care, there are many excellent FDA-approved therapies that can be used to target these de-sensitizing mutations! The key is to be aware if this is happening for you and, if so, which treatments are going to benefit you most.
Next Steps: How to Get Better Cancer Treatment
Want to learn more about what is possible for you in cancer treatment today?
Join our online program, “Cancer: Just the Facts” (Free)
Book a Free Cancer Care Consultation (Free)
Register for a Precision Second Opinion with Alex Rolland
Reach out anytime if you have questions. We’re here to support you.
on March 25, 2024