Targeted Cancer Therapy Types

Targeted cancer therapy uses drugs or other chemicals that interfere with a cancer cell's functions, preventing it from growing. These medications may inhibit a specific pathway that allows cancer cells to divide, communicate with other cells, or repair themselves. They may also obstruct a process that causes cancer to spread. Targeted therapies are classified into immunotherapy, small-molecule drug therapy, and anti-angiogenesis therapy. Each type works slightly differently, but they all interfere with a cancer cell's capacity to grow and replicate, causing it to die or stop spreading.

Tyler Buckley explained that immunotherapy entails using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other medications to stimulate your immune system to fight cancer cells. These mAbs are often administered intravenously and can boost your immune response, inhibit cell growth factors, or link to and deliver anticancer medications directly to tumor cells.

They can also be trained to attack and destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. A few examples are Alemtuzumab (for certain chronic leukemias), trastuzumab (for certain breast malignancies), and cetuximab. (certain colorectal, lung, head, and neck cancers). These drugs target certain proteins or enzymes in cancer cells that cause them to increase uncontrollably. They act by inhibiting the protein or enzyme, instructing the cancer cell to divide and multiply.

Some of these drugs are known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These drugs target the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, a cancer protein that can help cancer cells grow and spread. (EGFR-TK). Signal transduction inhibitors are medications that target cancer genes or proteins. These inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells by targeting the PI3K gene.

These drugs can also target the vascular endothelium, a component of blood vessels that transports oxygen and nutrients to cells. They can also obstruct the creation of new blood vessels that supply a tumor. They can also stimulate your body to produce particular substances that aid your immune system in fighting cancer, known as colony-stimulating factors. (CSFs). These compounds make detecting and eliminating cancer cells easier for your immune system.

This therapy is frequently used with other treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Your doctor will determine the specific treatment strategy based on the spite, the amount of genetic material in the tumor, and your overall health. Your doctor will arrange medical tests and scans to see how effective the specific medicine is. They will also inquire about your general health and emotional state.

You must follow all doctor's order's directions and attend all of your appointments so that they can monitor your development. It would help if you also inform your doctor of any difficulties or adverse effects you are experiencing. These medications are typically administered via IV. However, some can be taken orally, just like any other medication. Your doctor will choose the amount and when to take them. They are often less harmful than standard chemotherapy and have fewer side effects.