TARGETED THERAPY

WHEN IS TARGETED THERAPY INDICATED?

Targeted therapy is indicated to treat several different types of cancers. The therapy can be combined with other cancer treatments like chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. The oncologist will recommend targeted therapy if it is known to offer the best result.

WHAT DOES TARGETED THERAPY ENTAIL?

There are different types of cells that make up different parts of the body, and they all have different responsibilities. Cancer may occur when certain genes in healthy cells begin to change and become abnormal over time, called a genetic mutation or alteration. This results in the cells dividing too much or too quickly and growing out of control, forming a tumour. Targeted therapy does different things to the cancer cells that are targeted, such as:

• Blocking or turning off signals that tell cancer cells to grow and divide
• Preventing the cells from living longer than normal
• Destroying cancer cells

There are different types of targeted therapy, such as:

• Small-molecule drugs work by blocking the process that allows cancer cells to multiply and travel to other parts of the body. Angiogenesis inhibitors are the most common type of small-molecule drugs. Angiogenesis is the process of making new blood vessels. Tumours need blood vessels to transfer nutrients directly to them; therefore, angiogenesis inhibitors prevent the formation of new blood vessels in the tissue around the tumour.
• Monoclonal antibodies work by blocking the specific target outside the cancer cells or around the cancer They block the blood vessels that feed tumours. Monoclonal antibodies may help chemotherapy and radiation therapy reach cancer cells better. Monoclonal antibodies may be administered through an IV in a vein or intramuscularly.