One of our family Member asked about C kit testing!!!! jim Breitfeller

This is another important test for patients with c-kit mutation positive melanoma

This from the University of Utah Pathology Department

Targeted Cancer Therapy in Metastatic Malignant Melanoma
last modified 2008-03-06 18:29 — by Dave

Problem:

"When it comes to cancer patients with metastatic melanoma, there is little that can be done on their behalf. But for a few patients, studies are currently underway that could drastically improve their likelihood of survival."



How it all started:

"The research began a few years ago when scientists in the Division of Anatomic Pathology in the Department of Pathology at the University of Utah were studying gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with mutations in the c-kit gene. KIT, the protein coded for by the c-kit gene, normally activates cellular signals which tell the cell to grow and divide. In most normal circumstances, the c-kit gene is turned off and KIT is silent. However, it was discovered that GISTs have mutations in the c-kit gene which result in a KIT protein that is activated, or in other words is always turned on. Activation of the KIT protein causes a constant signal for the GIST tumor cells to grow. It has been discovered that GISTs, a tumor which previously had been therapeutically resistant, can be controlled by use of a new drug called Gleevec. Gleevec works as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that binds to the active site of the mutationally active tyrosine kinase KIT and inhibits the protein. Inhibition of KIT stops cellular signaling and turns off tumor growth. There are several different types of c-kit activating mutations occurring in GISTs and some are more responsive to Gleevec than others. To aid in the treatment of GIST patients, it is now possible, through the research efforts in Anatomic Pathology, to determine the type of c-kit mutation in GISTs."

The rest can be found at their website:


http://www.path.utah.edu/news/targeted-cancer-therapy


targeted-cancer-therapy


This is why it is so important to know your Blood chemistry!!!!!!!! It will help you find the right path to the right therapy.

Patty, thank you for sharing. This is how we all will become self-educated in Melanoma Therapy.

Jimmy B