Targeted Therapy
Also known as: precision medicine, molecular therapy
Drugs designed to attack specific molecules involved in cancer growth, with less harm to normal cells.
Definition
Targeted therapies are drugs that interfere with specific molecules — usually proteins or genetic changes — that drive a particular cancer's growth and survival. Because they zero in on features that are more common in cancer cells than in normal cells, they often cause fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy.
Examples include trastuzumab for HER2-positive breast cancer, tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia and EGFR inhibitors for certain lung cancers, and PARP inhibitors for BRCA-mutated cancers. Eligibility is determined by molecular testing on the tumour. Learn more on the targeted therapy service page.
See also
- Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) — Oral targeted drugs that block specific growth signals inside cancer cells.
- HER2 — A growth protein over-expressed in some breast and stomach cancers, which can be targeted with specific drugs.
- EGFR — A protein on the surface of some cancer cells that can be blocked by targeted drugs.
- BRCA1 / BRCA2 — Inherited gene mutations that significantly raise the lifetime risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
- Genetic Testing — Tests that examine genes to find inherited risk or to guide cancer treatment.
- Immunotherapy — Treatment that helps the body's own immune system find and destroy cancer cells.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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