One of the most significant yet frequently overlooked success stories of this century is the increasing number of individuals who are surviving cancer.
Recent statistics affirm this; currently, half of all cancer patients in the UK survive for at least a decade, a notable improvement compared to five decades ago. The cancer mortality rate in the US has also decreased by 34% over two decades. In Australia, more than 70% of cancer patients survive for at least five years.
Several of these improvements can be attributed to reduced smoking rates and the establishment of national screening programs for various types of cancer. Additionally, advancements in treatment options have introduced groundbreaking therapies, especially in immunotherapy, encompassing monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, and cancer vaccines.
Medications that focus on the interaction between cancer and our neurons show promising results
However, not all is positive. Despite encouraging advances, the incidence of cancer continues to rise, and there are indications that improvements in survival rates are slowing. To witness the extraordinary progress made thus far, one may need to reevaluate cancer from an entirely different perspective.
Fortunately, an emerging field known as cancer neuroscience may provide that new perspective, as detailed in a recent cover story. The realization that nerves play a crucial role in cancer proliferation and dissemination introduces a novel approach to treatment. Drugs designed to target the interaction between cancer cells and our neurons are already showing promise in clinical trials and are being hailed as potential breakthroughs in cancer therapy.
If cancer neuroscience leads to the next major breakthrough, the resulting drugs could be surprisingly affordable and accessible. For instance, some widely used beta blockers are currently under research.
This development is particularly welcome in light of the fact that many newer therapies can become prohibitively expensive, and challenges still exist in ensuring equitable, swift, and affordable access to optimal cancer treatments.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
