Cancer Magic Bullet

Haven't we all noticed how the notion of a cancer magic bullet has actually died off? Isn't it a pity? Well, I don't think that it's wholly impossible. I think we're just limited by what we know.

Cell biologists and oncologists know what each kind of cancer is like. Melanoma is a cancer of the skin. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood. Then, there's stomach, brain and lung cancer. With so many types of cancer, isn't it going to be impossible to combat each and every single type?

That's why, the prevailing mentality amongst specialists tells us that each cancer, though not incurable, is mutually unique. That is to say, we can't use one drug to pin-point and destroy the cancer cells. (Read here for a better understanding.) Indeed, what MayoClinic says seems to confirm my own views that we don't know enough about cancer to produce a magic bullet.

Here's my vision.

We're right now in a circle that limits our knowledge of cancer. Presently, we're filling up this circle of knowledge, until we reach the critical point where we max out the space inside it. When we reach that critical point, we can break through the circle, and finally pin-point the Achilles heel of cancer cells.

From what I know (A level biology isn't a lot, but it's enough to stimulate imagination) there has to be some protein, some gene, or some metabolic process that is unique to, or at least commonplace amongst all cancers, and is totally essential for the cancer to survive. If we can identify that common weakness we'll be on the way to curing it.

As it looks now, it'll take many years of painstaking research and cataloging before we can identify that common weakness. It'll be much like what Hubble did for astrophysics, painstakingly cataloging the stars in the night sky and their distances from Earth. But I think I'll be up to the challenge.