---
title: Targeted Therapy
url: "https://www.yyhmedical.com/en/guide/technology/targeted-therapy"
type: MedicalWebPage
inLanguage: en-US
---

# Targeted Therapy

> Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that acts on specific molecular targets or abnormal signaling pathways involved in cancer growth and survival.

## Overview

Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that acts on specific molecular targets or abnormal signaling pathways involved in cancer growth and survival. These targets may result from gene mutations, gene fusions, abnormal protein expression, or other molecular changes in cancer cells.

  

Unlike traditional chemotherapy, targeted therapy is often selected based on the molecular features of the cancer. It is now used to treat many solid tumors, including lung, breast, colorectal cancers, and melanoma, as well as blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

## Indications

Whether targeted therapy is appropriate usually depends on whether the cancer has a molecular target that can be treated with an available drug. Biomarker testing may involve genomic testing, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), or other molecular tests.

  

For example, some patients with lung cancer may receive targeted therapy based on alterations in EGFR, ALK, or ROS1. HER2-targeted therapy may be used for certain breast cancers, while tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting BCR::ABL1 are a key treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

  

Not every molecular alteration has an effective targeted treatment, and finding a gene alteration does not automatically mean that a targeted drug will be appropriate. The cancer type, stage, and available clinical evidence all need to be considered.

## Treatment Process

Before targeted therapy begins, pathology and biomarker testing are often used to identify relevant treatment targets and guide drug selection.

  

Targeted therapies may be given as oral medications or intravenous infusions. During treatment, blood tests, imaging studies, and sometimes molecular testing are used to monitor response and side effects.

  

Some cancers may develop resistance to targeted therapy over time. When this occurs, repeat tissue biopsy, genomic testing, or liquid biopsy may be considered to identify resistance mechanisms and help guide the next treatment.

## Side Effects and Considerations

Targeted therapy does not mean that a treatment affects only cancer cells or has no side effects. Different targeted drugs work in different ways and can have different safety profiles.

  

Possible side effects include rash, diarrhea, mouth sores, fatigue, high blood pressure, liver abnormalities, and low blood cell counts. Some targeted therapies may also affect the heart, lungs, or other organs.

  

Monitoring is tailored to the specific drug being used. If the cancer stops responding or begins to progress, further evaluation may be needed to assess treatment resistance and determine whether another targeted therapy or a different treatment approach should be considered.

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