What is Targeted Therapy?
Unlike chemotherapy, which affects both cancerous and healthy cells, targeted therapy works by attacking specific molecules (targets) that cancer cells use to grow and divide. This means it has fewer side effects and can be more effective for certain cancers.
How Does Targeted Therapy Work?
These drugs work by interfering with specific proteins or genetic mutations that fuel cancer. There are two main types:
- Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs): Lab-made antibodies that attach to cancer cell surfaces, blocking their growth signals (e.g., trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer).
Small Molecule Inhibitors: Drugs that enter cells and block cancer-driving proteins (e.g., imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia).
Which Cancers Treated from Targeted Therapy?
- Breast Cancer: HER2-targeted drugs like trastuzumab and pertuzumab.
- Lung Cancer: EGFR inhibitors like osimertinib for specific mutations.
- Leukemia: BCR-ABL inhibitors like imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia.
- Colorectal Cancer: Anti-VEGF drugs like bevacizumab to cut off the tumor’s blood supply.
Common Side Effects:
- Skin rash
- High blood pressure
- Diarrhea
- Liver problems
Unlike chemotherapy, targeted therapy requires genetic testing to determine if a patient’s cancer has the right mutations for the treatment to work. This approach, called precision medicine, is shaping the future of oncology.
💡 Fact: Targeted therapy can be taken as a pill or an injection, making it more convenient for many patients.