GCS Physician Talks to Local News about Breakthrough Breast Cancer Drug

Dr. Cheryl Jones recently appeared on 41 NBC to talk about Georgia Cancer Specialists’ role in advancing cancer treatment through participation in a clinical trial for the “smart bomb” breast cancer drug. 

The GCS-Macon office completed a trial of breast cancer drug trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) from Genentech, the success of which validates the long-held belief that targeted drug therapy often called a “smart bomb” treatment would soon be available for general use.

Dr. Cheryl Jones said the study shows how a cancer drug can enter the body like a smart bomb to attack and kill only cancer cells without damaging healthy cells.

This type of therapy has fewer side effects because the toxin that attacks cancer cells is not active until it reaches the tumor, she said.

In the breakthrough breast cancer treatment study, trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) outperformed other treatment protocols in a clinical trial involving 991 patients with relapsed breast cancer that carries a mutated form of the HER2 protein. About one in five cases of breast cancer are HER2-positive.

The GCS research department participates in the latest and most advanced clinical trials and is the only private cancer practice in Georgia to offer Phase I trials.

Georgia Cancer Specialists is a Top 10 private cancer practice in the U.S. and a leader in advanced cancer treatment and research. The practice supports more than 200,000 patient visits each year. GCS offers community-based medical oncology and hematology services and is the first private oncology practice to also provide a full range of support services for patients in Georgia, including wellness counseling and home health coordination. The GCS research department, whose focus is bringing targeted cancer therapy to communities, is the first in Georgia to offer Phase I clinical trials, the most novel cancer therapies available. GCS has 27 offices, 44 physicians, and more than 500 support staff members located in Metro Atlanta, and North and Central Georgia. Georgia Cancer Specialists can be found on the web at www.gacancer.com GCS is The Cancer Answer.