Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells with less harm to normal cells. Some targeted therapies block the action of certain enzymes, proteins, or other molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Other types of targeted therapies help the immune system kill cancer cells or deliver toxic substances directly to cancer cells and kill them. Targeted therapy may have fewer side effects than other types of cancer treatment.

Types of Targeted Therapy

There are several types of targeted therapy, including:

• Monoclonal antibodies: These are man-made versions of immune system proteins. Monoclonal antibodies can be very useful in treating cancer because they can be designed to attack a very specific part of a cancer cell.

• Tyrosine kinase inhibitors: Tyrosine kinase is a protein that can stimulate cancer cells to grow. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors block the signals that tell cancer cells to grow and divide.

• Angiogenesis inhibitors: These drugs block the action of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This protein helps new blood vessels to form. By blocking VEGF, these drugs reduce the blood supply to the cancer cells, slowing their growth or causing them to shrink.

• Cancer vaccines and gene therapy: Cancer vaccines and gene therapy are sometimes considered targeted therapies because they interfere with the growth of specific cancer cells.

Side Effects

Like all cancer treatments, targeted therapy can cause side effects. The side effects of targeted therapy depend on the type of targeted therapy and how it works. Most side effects are temporary and go away after treatment is finished.

See Also

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Hormone therapy

References

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  Diagram illustrating targeted therapy

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  Mechanism of action of imatinib