Decades ago treating cancer seemed impossible but slowly as modern medicine underwent changes, cancer care became more precise and innovative. Precision medicine has always been in the forefront in the medical field. Along with personalized treatments for many diseases, it ensures cancer care by making treatments customized for each and every individual. Among the many techniques in precision medicine, targeted therapies are growing and evolving to care for an array of diseases.
Target therapies for future of cancer care are important because these treatments target specific genes and proteins that are responsible for growth and survival of cancer cells in our body and interrupt or stop them from developing into tumors. Traditionally, cancer treatment was based on the type of cancer of the patients. For example, for breast cancers, particular treatments designed for breast cancers only were the first-option to go for and were primarily implemented. However, this scenario is about to change with the help of targeted therapies. Targeted treatments are based on a patient’s genetic knowledge of the tumour, regardless of where the cancer originated first.
Individual tumors have unique changes or mutations within the cells which drive their growth and distinguish them from normal cells and other tumours. Targeted therapies are medications specifically designed to target the mutations in cancer cells that cause their growth and survival, often without harming normal cells. In addition, we now know that similar genetic variations can be identified in various types of tumors; that is, a breast cancer can display the same mutation as a lung cancer, given the fact that the two cancers developed in different organs. Therefore, diagnosis is told by type of mutation, and not by where the cancer originated first.
Targeted treatments are telling the cancer tales for many patients. Oncologists use targeted therapies to treat different cancers including those of the lung, breast , colon and pancreas, melanoma and other cancers. While clinical trials proceed, researchers will find more types of mutations to inform the development of additional targeted therapies, thereby increasing patient options. Although still an evolving field, targeted therapies represent a highly promising development in cancer treatment in the future. Clinical researchers and physicians continue to develop their understanding of cancer complexities and respond with novel treatments, such as targeted therapies.
