Targeted Therapy Cost in India

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that relies on the genetic changes or mutations that cause healthy cells to become cancerous. Healthcare providers test for genetic abnormalities that enable cancer cells to grow and survive in order to use targeted therapy. Then they find precise medicines to destroy or stop certain cells from multiplying.

Targeted therapy allows doctors to treat cancer cells while avoiding harming healthy cells. More than 80 targeted medicines have been developed by healthcare practitioners to treat a variety of cancers. Targeted therapy is sometimes used as a first-line or initial treatment. They may also use targeted therapy in conjunction with other therapies.

How Targeted Therapy Works

Healthcare practitioners can identify specific cancer cell components to target for treatment after they understand the genetic mutation that turns a healthy cell into a cancer cell. These are sometimes targets on the surfaces of cancer cells. Occasionally, the targets are chemicals found within cancer cells. The below are two most prevalent types of targeted therapies and how they work to treat cancer:

• Small-molecule medicines:

  are small enough to enter cancer cells and kill them. These medicines bind to specific targets on cancer cells and stop them from growing or killing them. Small molecule medications are easily identifiable since their generic names finish in "-ib." Imatinib (Gleevec), for example, is used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and other cancers by preventing tumor cells from receiving signals that tell them to develop.

• Monoclonal antibodies:

  are too big to get into cells. Instead, they attack targets on the outside of cells or right around them. They are cloned replicas of your antibodies generated in a lab. Antibodies are a component of the immune system. They're proteins that search your body for intruder proteins (antigens), which can come from infections or cancer cells. Antibodies attack these antigens in order to eliminate the invaders.

  They're sometimes used to deliver chemo and radiation directly to the cancer cells. In a hospital or clinic, you normally get them through an IV in a vein in your arm.

Which Cancers can Targeted Therapy treat?

More than 80 targeted medicines have been developed by healthcare practitioners to treat a variety of cancers. They've also created tailored medicines to tackle distinct mutations that are associated with the same type of cancer. Targeted therapy may be used to treat the following forms of cancer:

• Blood Cancers- Leukemia, Multiple myeloma, Lymphoma
• Brain Cancers- Glioblastoma, Neuroblastoma
• Thyroid cancers- Anaplastic thyroid cancer, Medullary thyroid cancer, Papillary/follicular thyroid cancer
• Reproductive system cancers- Cervical cancer, Endometrial cancer, Prostate cancer
• Lung cancers- Non-small cell lung cancer, Small cell lung cancer
• Head and neck cancers- Oral cancer, Nasopharyngeal cancer, Oropharyngeal cancer, Laryngeal cancer
• Digestive system cancers- Colorectal cancer, Esophageal cancer, Neuroendocrine tumors, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Pancreatic cancer, Stomach cancer, Hepatocellular (liver) cancer, gallbladder cancer
• Breast cancers- BRCA gene mutation breast cancer, HER2-positive breast cancer, Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, Triple negative breast cancer

Who requires Targeted Therapy?

Some cancers, such as CML, virtually always have a target on which treatment can be focused. Your doctor may, however, need to test your tumor to discover if it contains any targets. They may do a biopsy, which involves taking a small sample of the tumor and analyzing it in a lab.

Even if you have the same form of cancer as someone else, the target may be different. HER2-positive breast tumors are not all the same. If you have the KRAS gene mutation, targeted colon cancer drugs such cetuximab (Erbitux) will not work.

You may need to try other therapies before your doctor offers a targeted therapy. Targeted therapy is frequently used in conjunction with other treatments.

How is Targeted Therapy given?

Because each person's condition is unique, ask your doctor to describe your treatment plan so you know what to expect. Here's some general facts about what to expect during targeted therapy:

• You can get targeted therapy by swallowing a pill, getting a shot beneath your skin (subcutaneously), or getting an IV (intravenously) on an outpatient basis.
• Targeted therapy may be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
• You may receive targeted therapy every day, once a week, many times a week, once a month, or less frequently. This depends on your medical condition, age, stage of cancer and various other factors.
• You may need to take a break from therapy at times.
• Your healthcare practitioner will see you on a frequent basis to monitor your progress. To determine how well the targeted therapy is working, they may conduct blood tests, X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and other diagnostics. They'll also inquire about any treatment-related adverse effects.

What Results can I Expect from Targeted Therapy?

Targeted therapy is a highly effective treatment, although it does not always work. Finding a therapeutic target is a difficult process that necessitates healthcare providers gathering a lot of information about cancer. It's a difficult procedure, and healthcare practitioners are still figuring out how to make it work better.