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Sunday, Jun 3, 2012 9:47 PM UTC

More advanced therapies are being aimed at cancer

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Topics: From the Wires,

More advanced therapies are being aimed at cancerFILE - In this April 19, 2007 file photo, a lab officer cuts a DNA fragment under UV light from an agarose gel for DNA sequencing as part of research to determine genetic mutation in a blood cancer patient, in Singapore, which prides itself as an advanced medical treatment and research hub. New research shows a sharp escalation in the weapons race against cancer, with several high-tech approaches long dreamed of but not possible or successful until now. At a weekend conference of more than 30,000 cancer specialists, scientists are reporting new tactics to spur the immune system to attack a broad range of cancers, new drugs that attack the disease while sparing healthy cells, and new ways to tell which patients will benefit from which drugs. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)(Credit: AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — New research shows a sharp escalation in the weapons race against cancer. Scientists are reporting success with several high-tech approaches long dreamed of but not possible or proven to work until now.

At a weekend conference of more than 30,000 cancer specialists in Chicago, researchers described new tools to make the immune system attack a broad range of cancers, new “smart bomb” drugs that target the disease while sparing healthy cells, and new ways to predict which patients will benefit from which treatments.

One of the best things about all of this: People feel better while going through treatment because the new approaches have fewer side effects.

More Marilynn Marchione.

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