Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have determined the precise molecular details of how Erbitux, a recently approved colorectal cancer drug, binds to its target on cancer cells. Knowing this chemical configuration will lead to better drug design for this family of cancer medications.Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in men and women, as well as the second-leading cause of cancer-related death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Erbitux works by binding to a protein on the surface of cancer cells, thereby halting excessive cell growth that leads to tumors. Kate Ferguson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Physiology, and colleagues, describe their findings in the April cover article of Cancer Cell.
