What is targeted therapy in the context of cancer treatment?

Targeted therapy is a form of cancer treatment that specifically focuses on the unique characteristics of cancer cells. This approach utilizes drugs designed to target particular molecular markers, pathways, or processes that are integral to the growth and survival of the cancer cells. By honing in on these vulnerabilities, targeted therapy can inhibit cancer cell proliferation or induce cell death while often sparing normal, healthy cells, leading to potentially reduced side effects.

This precision in targeting makes it distinct from broader treatment methods. While traditional chemotherapy often attacks all rapidly dividing cells indiscriminately, targeted therapy utilizes a more strategic method to affect only the cancerous cells that exhibit specific traits. Additionally, some cancer therapies do focus on enhancing the immune response, but targeted therapy itself primarily operates through direct action on cancer cell molecular targets rather than broadly stimulating immune activity. Hence, targeted therapy represents a more refined approach to cancer treatment, maximizing efficacy while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.