Why mixing two drugs is better at beating cancer

A COMBINATION of two drugs is more effective at fighting breast cancer than one treatment alone, a study has found.

The breast cancer drug Palbociclib is boosted when combined with lung cancer medication crizotinib, researchers said.

The ‘one-two punch’ may also help kill other tumours, including lung and bowel, said scientists. Crizotinib costs around £51,000 for a course of treatment while Palbociclib is priced at £38,000 a year.

The study was carried out at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and UCL Cancer Institute.

The combination therapy was used against human tumour cells placed in mice. Professor Paul Workman, of the ICR, said: ‘The approach looks highly promising.’