Targeted Therapy

Definition

Targeted therapy refers to a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to precisely identify and attack cancer cells, while minimizing damage to normal cells. This approach focuses on specific molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer, allowing for more effective and personalized treatment options. By honing in on the unique characteristics of individual tumors, targeted therapy enhances drug delivery methods and can work synergistically with other therapeutic modalities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Targeted therapy is often used for cancers that have specific genetic mutations, allowing for a tailored approach based on the individual’s tumor profile.
2. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which indiscriminately affects rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapy aims at specific pathways critical for cancer cell proliferation.
3. The effectiveness of targeted therapy can be enhanced when combined with other treatments like immunotherapy or radiation, providing a multi-faceted approach to cancer management.
4. Some common examples of targeted therapies include tyrosine kinase inhibitors and PARP inhibitors, which interfere with specific molecular targets involved in tumor growth.
5. Patient response to targeted therapy can be monitored through various imaging techniques and biomarkers, helping to adjust treatment plans as needed.

Review Questions

• How does targeted therapy differ from traditional cancer treatments in terms of its approach to treating cancer cells?
  • Targeted therapy differs from traditional cancer treatments by specifically targeting molecular pathways associated with cancer cell growth rather than attacking all rapidly dividing cells. Traditional chemotherapy can damage both cancerous and healthy cells, leading to significant side effects. In contrast, targeted therapy focuses on unique characteristics of cancer cells identified through biomarkers, thus reducing damage to normal tissues and increasing treatment efficacy.
• Discuss the role of biomarkers in determining the suitability of targeted therapy for individual patients.
  • Biomarkers play a crucial role in determining the appropriateness of targeted therapy by helping identify specific genetic mutations or proteins present in a patient's tumor. This information enables healthcare providers to select therapies that are most likely to be effective based on the tumor's unique profile. Additionally, monitoring these biomarkers can inform adjustments to treatment plans, optimizing patient outcomes and minimizing unnecessary side effects.
• Evaluate the potential challenges associated with implementing targeted therapy in clinical practice, particularly regarding patient accessibility and treatment resistance.
  • Implementing targeted therapy in clinical practice poses several challenges, including patient accessibility due to high costs of medications and limited availability of specific tests needed for biomarker identification. Furthermore, some tumors may develop resistance over time, rendering initially effective treatments ineffective. Understanding the mechanisms behind this resistance is vital for developing new strategies that can overcome these hurdles and improve long-term outcomes for patients undergoing targeted therapy.

Related terms

Biomarkers: Biomarkers are biological molecules found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that indicate a normal or abnormal process, or a condition or disease, often used to determine the best treatment approach.

Monoclonal Antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made molecules engineered to bind specifically to target antigens on cancer cells, marking them for destruction by the immune system or blocking their growth.

Precision Medicine: Precision medicine is an innovative approach to disease treatment and prevention that considers individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle for tailoring therapies.