Targeted cancer therapy

Recently, medical research has made great progress in understanding how cancer starts and develops. Key features for cancer growth and spread have also been identified. Some new therapies get in the way of these features. They are called “targeted therapies”, and have the potential to block the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Monoclonal antibodies are an example of a targeted cancer therapy. These are antibodies made in the laboratory that recognize and attach themselves to specific proteins on cancer cells. Once attached they may prevent key signals from reaching the cell. They can even be linked with drugs, to guide the drug to the cancer.

Many of the new approaches to cancer treatment currently being developed are targeted therapies. When the feature it targets is well defined, immunotherapy may also be considered a targeted therapy. You can find out more about in the immunotherapy section of this site.