Targeted therapy is a modern form of cancer treatment that uses specialized drugs or other substances to precisely identify and attack cancer cells without harming normal cells.
Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to specifically target cancer cells based on their unique characteristics, such as genetic mutations or proteins that are involved in the growth and survival of the tumor. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which affects both cancerous and healthy rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapy is designed to interfere with specific molecules that are involved in the development and spread of cancer.
Targeted therapies are part of the growing field of precision medicine, which tailors treatment based on the individual biology of a patient's cancer. These therapies are especially effective in cancers with known genetic alterations, such as HER2-positive breast cancer, EGFR-mutated lung cancer, or BRAF-mutated melanoma.
The main advantage of targeted therapy is its ability to attack cancer cells more precisely while sparing normal cells, which often results in fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy. However, targeted therapies are not suitable for all cancers and are usually used only after certain biomarker tests or genetic tests confirm that the tumor expresses the target.
Monoclonal Antibodies – Lab-made antibodies that bind to specific targets on cancer cells (e.g., trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer).
Small Molecule Inhibitors – Enter cells and block pathways from the inside (e.g., imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia).
Angiogenesis Inhibitors – Prevent tumors from forming new blood vessels (e.g., bevacizumab).
PARP Inhibitors – Exploit DNA repair defects in cancer cells (e.g., olaparib in BRCA-mutated cancers).
CDK4/6 Inhibitors – Block proteins that regulate the cell cycle (e.g., palbociclib in breast cancer).
