Researchers identify cause colon cancer treatment resistance

Researchers have identified a mutation that causes colon cancer cells to be resistant to treatment.

According to researchers at the Hospital del Mar, a mutation in an oncogene called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) causes resistance to treatment using cetuximab, an antibody that attacks the EGFR.

The study highlighted that the mutation appears in people who have colon cancer and stops treatment from being effective and promotes tumour growth.

However, the study also found that tumours do respond to a similar drug, called panitumumab, which suggests that patients that no longer respond to cetuximab may benefit from panitumumab.

What's more, the study is the first to identify a mutation in oncology that forms a resistance instead of a bond with the antibody.

A tapeworm drug has previously been believed to prevent metastasis of colon cancer cells.

Niclosamide is believed to silence the gene - S100A4/metastasin - that triggers metastases in colon cancer.

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