Welcome to our comprehensive guide on Medical Oncology. In this article, we delve into Understanding Targeted Therapies in Cancer, exploring the latest advancements and essential information.
Standard chemotherapy kills all rapidly dividing cells, which includes both cancer cells and healthy cells (like hair follicles). Targeted therapies specifically attack only the cancer cells by interfering with the specific proteins or genes driving their growth.
Doctors perform biomarker or genomic testing on the tumor. If the tumor tests positive for the specific mutation that a drug targets, the patient is a candidate for that therapy.
Yes, while generally better tolerated than chemotherapy, they can cause side effects like skin rashes, high blood pressure, and gastrointestinal issues, depending on the specific drug.