It is estimated that over 6000 Canadians were diagnosed with melanoma in 2013, and over an estimated 1000 Canadians passed away. (Credit: National Cancer Institute of the United States, Wikimedia Commons)
Studies on melanomas in mice have shown that tumors which developed resistance to the anti-cancer drug vemurafenib could regain sensitivity to the treatment after a ‘drug holiday’.
A new study shows that melanoma human patients that have developed resistance can regain sensitivity to the drug after a drug holiday of seven days. This means that the patients could be re-treated with the same drug after a week-long hiatus.
Original research paper published in the journal Nature on March 26, 2014.
Names and affiliations of selected authors
