The Guardian view on cancer treatments: new hope for patients now and in the future | Editorial
Recent breakthroughs from the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago include the drug daraxonrasib, which doubled survival time for pancreatic cancer patients from six to 13 months. Other advances include a new jab for head and neck cancers and immunotherapy for bladder cancer, highlighting a shift toward incremental, life-extending progress.
These developments suggest that the path to treating cancer isn’t a single “magic bullet.” Instead, it’s a series of small wins that provide patients with more time and better quality of life.
Why is the drug daraxonrasib significant?
Daraxonrasib targets a family of molecules called Ras, which are frequently mutated or misregulated in cancer cells. For decades, medical professionals viewed Ras as “undruggable,” a status that held from the 1980s until recent advances in medical chemistry changed the outlook.
In recent clinical trials for pancreatic cancer, the drug doubled survival time. While the average increase was from six months to 13 months, these additional months are considered precious for patients and their families.
The implications extend beyond pancreatic cancer. Trials are now underway to see if daraxonrasib can help patients with small-cell lung cancers (affecting about 30%) and colorectal cancers (affecting about 40%).
How is the approach to cancer research evolving?
Governments have historically framed cancer as a war to be won. Examples include Nixon’s 1971 “war on cancer,” the 2016 Obama-Biden plan to cure it “once and for all,” and Sajid Javid’s 2022 “war on cancer” initiative in the UK.
However, this “war” framing can hide how progress actually happens. Real gains come from stalling the disease rather than achieving a sudden, stunning rout.
Routine genetic screening has also changed the field over the last decade. Doctors can now easily identify the specific patients who would benefit from a drug, even if only a small percentage of people with a certain cancer have the Ras mutation.
What happens next for cancer treatment?
The current landscape suggests a continued move toward personalized medicine. Because survival rates in the UK and other rich countries have doubled since the 1970s, the foundation for further growth is already set.
Michelle Mitchell, head of Cancer Research UK, describes the current era as a “golden age for cancer research.” Future progress is likely to come from new detection methods and targeted drugs rather than a single cure.
It is possible that daraxonrasib may fundamentally transform how various Ras-related cancers are managed. This could lead to a future where more patients receive remissions and more life is won through steady, scientific advancement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the daraxonrasib trial for pancreatic cancer?
The drug doubled survival time, meaning patients lived an average of 13 months compared to six months.
Which other cancers are being tested for daraxonrasib?
Trials are underway for colorectal cancers, where Ras is involved in about 40% of cases, and small-cell lung cancers, where it is involved in about 30%.
What is the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer in the UK?
Only about one in 20 patients are still alive five years after their diagnosis.
Do you believe framing medical progress as a “war” helps or hinders the way we fund and understand cancer research?