Tumour drivers and resistance (TDR)

What are tumour drivers and resistance (TDR) and why are they important?

Cancer is caused by disruptions to the normal processes that regulate cell division.¹ These changes often result from genetic mutations that cause the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells that eventually become tumours.¹

Medicines have been developed that directly target the specific mutations and tumour drivers that fuel cancer. However, many patients who initially respond to targeted therapies typically develop resistance to these treatments.² Resistance can occur in two ways: the target itself can change through a secondary mutation, or the tumour can find an alternative growth pathway, rendering the drug ineffective.²

What we're working on to improve treatment outcomes

We are developing therapies that block the mutations and resistance mechanisms that cause cancer cells to proliferate, with the goal of extending survival by targeting multiple biological pathways simultaneously and combatting cancer as it evolves at every stage.

References:

1. The National Cancer Institute. What is Cancer? Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer. Accessed August 2024.

2. The National Cancer Institute. Targeted Therapy to Treat Cancer. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/targeted-therapies. Accessed August 2024.