“To sum up, please
remember that not all mutations are created equal. There are many, many
mutations, but not all of them are drivers. We have made great inroads into
certain cancers, including chronic myelogenous leukemia, gastrointestinal
stromal tumors, and non-small cell lung cancer with eGFR and ALK genetic
lesions. These are single driver mutations that make a huge difference. That
said, we know that [many of] these patients eventually have recurrences, many
of them are not cured, and other strategies are needed.
I am humbled every day by what
I see in my patients. I am further humbled by the molecular diversity of the
tumors we find in our patients. I urge you to respect this complexity, but
please do not let it intimidate you. The tools we have to interrogate tumors
can lead to the identification of critical drivers, and by attacking those
targets, we can make a difference in those tumors. To me this paper simply
reaffirms the complexity I knew was there and reinforces my resolve to try to
understand tumors better to make the best choices for my patients.”
Mark Kris, MD
MSKCC
