"Researchers say a new drug targeting a specific gene in people with advanced breast cancer has shown hopeful results since being put under the microscope at Scottsdale Healthcares Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center. In an early Phase  study of the drug focusing on the gene PK which is abnormal in  to  percent of advanced breast cancer patients two of  individuals initially tested experienced significant shrinkage of tumors according to hospital officials. The cancerrelated gene if abnormal could spur bodily signals that lead to cancers growth. GDC was the drug under investigation. If a patient has a tumor in the lungs then its causing their difficulty breathing. If the tumor is pushing up against other organs it could be causing pain said Dr. Glen Weiss director of thoracic oncology at Scottsdale Healthcare. Shrinking that tumor could relieve that system. The study at Virginia G. Piper a clinicaltrial partnership between Scottsdale Healthcare and the Translational Genomics Research Institute was in collaboration with the DanaFarber Cancer Institute in Boston and the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. The  patients tested had various forms of advanced cancer. Of the two to show results one had cervical cancer and the other breast cancer. Phase  was key to determining effective dosages in the right patient said Weiss a physicianscientist with joint appointments also at TGen. The next step would be Phase  during which patients with the same cancer are given the same dose. Breast cancer research advocates say for them the best results are those that increase survival. Sixteen years ago Paradise Valley resident Karen Lewkowitz was diagnosed with breast cancer and for the past  years has been advocacy chairwoman for Bosom Buddies of Arizona a group comprising those personally affected by the cancer. A lot of these things will shrink a tumor she said of drug research. But what we look at as advocates is overall survival. Of breast cancer research she said thats just not good enough until survival rates take a more dramatic turn for the better. Patients in the study experienced diarrhea nausea rash fatigue decreased appetite vomiting itchiness and taste alteration. Weiss said such side effects tend to be seen as an effect with this kind of oral drug."