Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to specifically target cancer cells. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which can damage both cancer cells and healthy cells, targeted therapy is designed to minimize harm to healthy cells. Targeted therapy is often used in combination with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.

How does targeted therapy work?

Targeted therapy works by targeting specific molecules or proteins that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells. These molecules or proteins are often found on the surface of cancer cells or inside the cells. Targeted therapy drugs are designed to bind to these molecules or proteins and block their function. This can stop the cancer cells from growing and dividing, and it can also lead to the death of cancer cells.

What are the different types of targeted therapy?

There are many different types of targeted therapy drugs, each of which targets a specific molecule or protein. Some of the most common types of targeted therapy drugs include:

• Monoclonal antibodies are man-made proteins that are designed to bind to specific molecules or proteins on the surface of cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies can block the function of these molecules or proteins, or they can deliver toxic substances to the cancer cells.
• Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are drugs that block the function of tyrosine kinases, which are enzymes that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors can stop the cancer cells from growing and dividing.
• Proteasome inhibitors are drugs that block the function of the proteasome, which is a protein complex that is involved in the degradation of proteins. Proteasome inhibitors can cause the accumulation of proteins in cancer cells, which can lead to the death of cancer cells.

What are the benefits of targeted therapy?

Targeted therapy has several benefits over traditional chemotherapy. These benefits include: