Targeted Therapy in Cancer: How It Works and the Commonly Used Medicines

What is the Targeted Therapy Approach in Cancer?

Targeted therapy is a cancer care treatment in which the anticancer medicines are used to target exclusively the cancer cells, inhibiting the specific enzymes or proteins involved in cancer cell proliferation.

Working of Targeted Therapy in Cancer Treatment

Unlike the chemotherapy treatments, which indiscriminately harm the normal, healthy cells, the targeted therapy drugs bind to specific molecules, inhibiting only the cancer cells.

Blocking the Cancer Cell Signaling

The cancer cells in the body continue to grow and proliferate, receiving signals from the intracellular pathways. The targeted therapy drug molecules inhibit these signaling pathways and stop cancer cell multiplication or replication.

Inhibit New Blood Vessel Formation

The tumors or the cancer cells generate new blood vessels to grow in size and number. These blood vessels carry oxygen and essential nutrients for cancer cell proliferation.

The targeted therapy medicines inhibit the formation of new blood vessels or destroy the newly developed blood vessels, which leads to cell starvation and death due to deprivation of oxygen and essential nutrients.

Programmed Cell Death – The normal cells in the body grow and die in a sequenced manner. The cancer cells escape the death process. The targeted therapy drugs process the cancer cell to undergo the natural cell death process.

Inhibiting DNA Repair Mechanisms – The cells undergo a process of cell metabolism and DNA repair. The targeted anticancer drug inhibits cancer cell repair mechanisms, thus blocking the synthesis.

Delivering Toxins Into the Cancer Cells – The monoclonal antibodies or certain drugs carry toxic elements and bind to the cancer cell surface. They release toxic substances into the cancer cell, which causes cancer cell death.

Activates the Immune System – The drugs attach to the cancer cell receptors. The cancer cells are then targeted by the immune system.

Inhibiting Specific Hormones – These are the hormone therapy drugs that inhibit the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors or cancers. These drugs inhibit specific hormones essential for tumor growth and division, causing cancer cell death. These are widely used in breast cancer and prostate cancer therapies.

Benefits of Targeted Cancer Therapy

• • Precision and Specificity – Targeting the specific cancer cells, it offers less damage to the healthy or normal cells.
• • Fewer Side Effects – Due to their selective nature, the targeted therapy drugs do not harm the normal cells and offer fewer side effects, like less hair loss or bone marrow suppression.
• • Decreased Resistance – The cancer cells strive to develop, forming new pathways, and the targeted drug therapies selectively inhibit alternative pathways, causing cancer cell death.
• • Increased Effectiveness – Due to specific targeting, they are more effective in controlling cancer cell growth and spread.
• • Better Tolerance – High selectivity and lesser side effects lead to better tolerance. It allows patients to maintain physical activity and functions.

Cancers That Respond Best to Targeted Therapy

• • Breast cancer
• • Lung cancer
• • Colorectal cancer
• • Prostate cancer
• • Melanoma
• • Blood cancer
• • Kidney cancer
• • Thyroid cancer
• • Bladder cancer

The Common Side Effects of Targeted Therapy

• • Fatigue
• • Skin rash
• • Dry skin
• • Diarrhea
• • Nausea
• • High blood pressure
• • Liver dysfunctions

Rare but serious side effects include:

• • Cardiac problems
• • Lung inflammation
• • Blood clotting issues

The Innovative Targeted Therapy Medicines by Aprazer

Aprazer Healthcare advances cancer care treatment, manufactures world-standard targeted therapy anticancer drugs that offer precision care and selective action.

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) – They work by inhibiting the cancer cell cycle, interrupting cell signals.

• • Lenvakast ( Lenvatinib ) – Liver, thyroid, and renal cancer.
• • Imatikast ( Imatinib ) – Used in stomach cancer and chronic leukemia.
• • Lapakast ( Lapatinib ) – It is widely used for HER-2 positive breast cancer and lung cancer.
• • Sorafekast ( Sorafenib ) – Used for hepatic cancer, renal cancer, and throat cancer.

PARP Inhibitors – Inhibit DNA repair mechanisms

• • Olabir (Olaparib) – Used for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors– Inhibit new blood vessel formation

• • Sutekast (Sunitinib)- Used in renal cancer and stomach cancer.
• • Pazokast (Pazopanib)- Kidney cancer and soft tissue sarcomas

Androgen Receptor Inhibitors – They inhibit the androgen receptor, which produces testosterone that promotes tumor growth.

• • Indenza (Enzalutamide) – Used in resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
• • Abirakast (Abiraterone) – Used in advanced prostate cancers.

Aromatase Inhibitors- These reduce the production of estrogen, which is effective in hormone-sensitive breast cancer.

• • Anzakast (Anastrozole) – Used in breast cancer in elderly women.
• • Letrakast (Letrozole) – Widely prescribed for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Estrogen Receptor Antagonist 

• • Fulvekast (Fulvestrant) – Widely used for advanced breast cancer and hormone–receptor positive breast cancer.

Aprazer Healthcare, dedicated to equitable access to essential healthcare for everyone, is the leading exporter of anticancer medicines, supplying globally.

• • WHO-GMP certified medicines
• • Continuous research and drug development
• • Leveraging cutting-edge technology
• • Assured quality and safety

Aprazer Healthcare, the leading anticancer medicine manufacturer, is the top pharmaceutical company from India, manufacturing the latest advanced anticancer drugs and innovative therapies that bring better patient outcomes and enhance survival.