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Common Ground

In some cases, cancers of seemingly disparate organs travel the same pathway and can be targeted by the same drug.

By Cathryn Delude // Infographic by Chris Malec // Summer 2009

Researchers are looking beyond a tumor’s physical location to discover the genetic mutation that drives the cancer; in some cases, they’ve found that cancers of seemingly disparate organs travel the same pathway. Here are examples of these newly reclassified organs, the relevant mutations and the drugs that target them, both approved (starred) and under study.

Chris Malec

When the Drug Fits

Therapies that focus on tumors’ key proteins have had miraculous but often short-lived effects. New strategies could extend their usefulness.

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