Targeted Therapy

Introduction

Targeted therapy is a kind of cancer treatment that’s focused on genetic changes or mutations that turn healthy cells into cancer cells. To use targeted therapy, healthcare providers test for the genetic changes responsible for helping cancer cells grow and survive. Then, they identify specific treatments to kill those cells or keep them from growing. Targeted therapy helps healthcare providers treat cancer cells without hurting healthy cells. Healthcare providers have developed more than 80 targeted therapies to treat many kinds of cancer. Sometimes, they use targeted therapy as the front line or initial treatment. They may also combine targeted therapy with other treatments.

Once healthcare providers understand the genetic mutation that transforms a healthy cell into a cancer cell, they can target specific cancer cell sections for treatment. These are sometimes used as targets on cancer cells' surfaces. Other times, the targets are chemicals found within cancer cells. The two most frequent types of targeted therapies and how they treat cancer are monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule medicines.

Targeted therapies treat all types of cancer

Healthcare practitioners have created over 80 targeted therapies to treat various types of cancer. They've also developed targeted medicines to treat distinct mutations associated with the same type of cancer. Cancers that can be treated with targeted therapy include blood cancers, brain malignancies, bone and soft tissue cancers, breast cancers, digestive system cancers, head and neck cancers, lung cancers, skin cancers, thyroid cancers, and urinary system cancers.

Targeted therapy is a highly effective treatment, although it does not always work. Identifying a target for therapy is a complex process that necessitates healthcare personnel gathering extensive information about a malignancy. It's a difficult process, and healthcare experts are still discovering how to make it more effective.

Procedure 

Before the procedure 

Your healthcare professional will determine whether targeted therapy is the best treatment option for your specific cancer kind. Your healthcare professional may need to test your blood or tissue samples obtained through biopsies. They will seek for specific gene changes or mutations in the samples to identify targets that are likely to respond to specific medicines.

During the procedure 

Every circumstance is unique, so ask your healthcare professional to describe your treatment plan so you know what to expect. Here's some broad information on what might occur during targeted therapy:

• Targeted therapy can be administered as a tablet, an injection beneath the skin (subcutaneously), or by an IV. People who receive IV therapy often visit their doctor's office or an outpatient treatment centre.

• You may receive targeted therapy in conjunction with other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

• You could get targeted therapy every day, once a week, several times a week, once a month, or less frequently.

• There may be times when you take a break from therapy.

You’ll have regular visits with your healthcare provider so they can monitor your progress. They may perform blood tests, X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and other tests to assess how well the targeted therapy is working. They’ll also ask how you’re doing with any treatment side effects.

Benefits

The primary advantage of targeted therapy is its ability to kill cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. It can help prevent cancer cells from spreading. When previous treatments have proven ineffective, healthcare experts may propose targeted therapies.

Side effects 

Side effects from targeted therapy vary depending on the substance. Possible side effects include diarrhea, elevated liver enzymes, cardiotoxicity, dry skin, extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light (photosensitivity), high blood pressure, hair color loss, nail changes, wound healing and blood clotting issues, skin rash, interstitial lung disease, heart rhythm changes, and neurologic changes.

Conclusion

Targeted medicines for primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs) constitute a significant development in medical treatment. These therapies, including gene therapy, monoclonal antibodies, enzyme replacement therapy, cytokine therapy, and small molecule inhibitors, are aimed to address the specific genetic or molecular flaws causing immunological failure in PIDs.