Can Point Mutations Be Targeted for Cancer Therapy?
Yes, point mutations can be targeted for cancer therapy. Personalized medicine approaches often involve identifying specific mutations in a patient's cancer and using targeted therapies to address those mutations. For example:
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs): Drugs like imatinib target the BCR-ABL fusion protein caused by a point mutation in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). - BRAF inhibitors: Drugs such as vemurafenib target the BRAF V600E mutation in melanoma. - PARP inhibitors: These drugs are used in cancers with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, which are often point mutations.
