Targeted therapy is a class of cancer drugs designed to act on molecular or protein abnormalities within cancer cells, thereby stopping tumor growth and spread. A key advantage of this method is its selective action on cancer cells, enhancing treatment efficacy while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

Currently, there are over 100 types of targeted drugs available for cancer treatment. Some common cancers that can be treated with targeted therapy include lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, blood cancer, and breast cancer.

However, not all cancer patients can be treated with targeted therapy. The drugs are effective only when the tumor carries specific mutations or biomarkers that align with the drug's mechanism of action. Targeted therapy is ineffective if the tumor lacks the particular gene or protein changes that the drug targets.

A doctor advises a patient on a targeted therapy treatment regimen. Illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

For instance, in non-small cell lung cancer, some patients with mutations like EGFR, ALK, ROS1, RET, MET, or HER2 may be prescribed corresponding targeted drugs. If these mutations are not detected, doctors will not prescribe targeted drugs for the patient.

Cancer patients need to undergo molecular biology and immunohistochemistry tests to determine if targeted therapy is suitable. Test results help identify gene mutations or biomarkers related to the tumor, allowing doctors to decide on an appropriate treatment regimen for each case.

Targeted therapy does not completely replace other treatment methods. Depending on the cancer type, disease stage, and patient condition, doctors may prescribe surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of methods to achieve optimal efficacy.

This treatment method still has limitations, such as cancer cells potentially evolving and developing drug resistance mechanisms after a period of treatment, causing the drug's effectiveness to diminish over time. In such cases, patients may need to repeat molecular biology tests to assess the resistance mechanism and select the next suitable treatment approach.

Master, Doctor Nguyen The Thu

Oncology Department

Tam Anh General Hospital Hanoi