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Understanding Target Therapy in Cancer Treatment

You might still be wondering what is targeted therapy. Targeted therapy is a specialized type of cancer treatment that uses medicines or other substances to precisely target and attack specific cancer cells. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which affects on all rapidly dividing cells in the body, targeted therapy seeks to disrupt specific chemicals or pathways implicated in cancer growth, progression, and spread. The main idea of targeted therapy is to identify unique molecular traits or genetic aberrations in cancer cells that separate them from normal ones. However, targeted therapy side effects should not be ignored. Targeted therapy uses these variations to specifically disrupt the abnormal signaling pathways that drive cancer cell growth and survival while reducing damage to healthy tissues. Oncare, a cancer treatment center, uses targeted therapy to treat cancer patients.

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Types of Targeted Therapy

Now that you know what is targeted therapy, let’s learn about its types. Targeted therapy uses various methods designed to interfere with specific molecular targets that are in the progression of cancer. Some of the common types of targeted therapy include:

Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-created proteins designed to replicate the immune system's ability to recognize and kill specific targets, such as cancer cells. These antibodies are intended to bind to certain proteins, called antigens, on the surface of cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies, by targeting these antigens, can prevent cancer cells from growing and surviving. They can also activate the immune system, allowing it to better spot and eliminate cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies have successfully treated a variety of tumors, including breast cancer (trastuzumab), colorectal cancer (bevacizumab), and lymphoma (rituximab). The main idea of targeted therapy for cancer is to identify unique molecular traits or genetic aberrations in cancer cells that separate them from normal ones.

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs)

Tyrosine kinases are enzymes that help regulate cell development, proliferation, and survival. Tyrosine kinases tend to be overactive in cancer cells, resulting in uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumor formation. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are medications that target specific enzymes, reducing their activity and changing the signaling pathways that cause cancer growth. TKIs, which inhibit tyrosine kinases, can effectively decrease tumor development and cause cancer cell death. TKIs have been effective in treating a variety of malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (erlotinib), chronic myeloid leukemia (imatinib), and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (sunitinib). The TKI enzymes are what is targeted therapy known to reduce tumor growth.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy is a targeted approach used to treat hormone-sensitive malignancies like breast and prostate cancer. Hormones like estrogen and testosterone can promote the growth of specific types of cancer cells. Hormone treatment inhibits the production of these hormones or interferes with their interaction with cancer cells. In breast cancer, hormone therapy may include the use of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) or aromatase inhibitors to block estrogen signaling. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer tries to reduce testosterone levels or block androgen receptors, thereby slowing tumor development and progression.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors

Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels develop from existing vasculature. This procedure is necessary for tumor growth and metastasis because cancers require a continuous blood supply to grow and spread. Angiogenesis inhibitors are medications that target specific molecules and signaling pathways involved in blood vessel development. By suppressing angiogenesis, these medications can starve cancers of vital nutrients and oxygen, limiting tumor growth and avoiding metastases. Angiogenesis inhibitors have been effective in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including colorectal cancer (bevacizumab), renal cell carcinoma (sorafenib), and glioblastoma.

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Advantages of Targeted Therapy for Cancer

Let’s now discuss what is targeted therapy benefits. Targeted therapy has several benefits over conventional chemotherapy and other forms of cancer treatment. Some of the major benefits of targeted therapy for cancer are:

Precision Targeting

One of the most significant benefits of targeted therapy is its ability to precisely target cancer cells while preserving normal cells. Unlike standard chemotherapy, which indiscriminately kills rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapy focuses on specific molecular markers found in cancer cells. This precise targeting reduces harm to healthy tissues, lowering the chance of unpleasant side effects. It includes nausea, hair loss, and immunological suppression, which are typically linked with chemotherapy. This is exactly what is targeted therapy method is created for.

Improved Efficiency

Targeted therapy allows more precise and effective tumor management by focusing on specific molecular defects driving cancer development and progression. Targeted therapy can successfully stop tumor growth, cause cancer cell death, and shrink tumors by interrupting key signaling pathways or biological targets involved in cancer formation. This increased efficacy leads to better treatment outcomes, a higher quality of life, and a longer survival time for cancer patients.

Reduced Resistance

Cancer cells often develop resistance to conventional chemotherapy medications via a variety of mechanisms, resulting in treatment failure and disease progression. However, targeted therapy offers the benefit of bypassing many of these resistance mechanisms by directly targeting genetic abnormalities found only in cancer cells. Targeted therapy, which blocks essential signaling pathways or molecular targets, can overcome resistance mechanisms, making it an important alternative for patients with resistant or refractory cancer. It is exactly what is targeted therapy popular among cancer treatment clinics.