Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy or targeted molecular therapy refers to using drugs which are not cytotoxic but rather specifically target certain molecules to treat cancer. Targeted therapy often prolongs survival, sometimes for years, and the patient remains on the targeted therapy during this time.

• Biological therapy
  • = refers to biological drugs, most commonly monoclonal antibodies
  • Bevacizumab – anti-VEGF
    • Inhibits vascular proliferation and therefore neovascularization
  • Cetuximab – anti-EGFR
• Small molecules
  • = refers to small molecule drugs, which enter the cells and inhibit certain intracellular proteins
  • Gefitinib, erlotinib – EGFR inhibitors
  • Alectinib – ALK inhibitor
  • Vemurafenib – BRAF inhibitor
    • Only works on a certain type of BRAF mutation in melanoma
    • Actually stimulates wildtype BRAF
  • Sorafenib – Multi protein kinase inhibitor
    • Inhibits VEGFR, PDGFR, RAF, etc.
• Common side effects
  • Anti-EGFR and EGFR inhibitors
    • Acneiform dermatitis
  • Anti-BRAF and BRAF inhibitors
    • Photosensitivity
    • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Sorafenib
    • Alopecia
    • Hand-foot syndrome