Cancer can affect every person. But, fortunately, medicine is rapidly developing, and new developments appear daily, so anti-cancer therapy is at a very high level.
A completely new direction in the treatment of cancer is targeted therapy.
Concept
Targeted therapy is the latest development successfully applied in oncology practice. The difference between targeted therapy and other methods is its safety in relation to healthy cellular structures.
In general, targeted therapy is an independent type of treatment, supplementing other methods.
The use of such treatment is permissible only after determining the molecular tumor characteristics, otherwise the targeted therapy becomes useless.
Therefore, one medicine can not be used in all cancer patients.
How does targeted therapy work?
The targeted therapy due to its purposeful action is also called the target.
Such treatment affects the formation itself, DNA, its receptors and other tumor structures.
As a result, the development and growth of cancer education slows down and stops. This effect ensures high efficiency of such treatment.
Target drugs affect such targets:
- Gene structures that are responsible for the ost and division of cancer cells;
- Molecular structures that control the processes of cell death( apoptosis);
- Receptors to hormonal substances on the surface of the oncocells( for example, with breast cancer);
- Receptors to growth factors and vascular structures that determine the normal development of the tumor vasculature.
Most often, targeted drugs select their targets protein connections, which are responsible for tumor growth, development and metastasis. These drugs block the factors responsible for cell division and lead to a stop of tumor growth.
Preventing vascular development, targeted drugs disrupt the blood supply of the tumor, resulting in the tumor experiencing oxygen starvation and nutritional deficiency.
Advantages and disadvantages of
An obvious advantage of targeted therapy is that smart targeted drugs are able to clearly distinguish between malignant and healthy cell structures, they act specifically on cancer cells without affecting healthy tissues.
Target drugs purposefully destroy tumor cells, inhibiting its development. Most often, this treatment is used for cancers of the skin, kidney and lung structures.
The main advantages of targeted therapy are such factors:
- Tablet form of drugs;
- Minimal list of adverse reactions and easy tolerability of oncopacients;
- Sight antitumor effect on cancer cells;
- There are no contraindications to combine with other procedures.
Target medicines are produced in tablet form, so they can easily be taken at home, whereas chemotherapy, for example, requires mandatory hospital stay. Targeted therapy is not reflected on the overall performance of the patient, it remains as active and able to lead the old way of life.
Also a plus of targeted treatment is the different principle of action of such drugs. Some targeted drugs slow the growth and metastasis of oncoprocess. Others destroy immune cellular communications. The third disorient the cancer cells, isolating them from each other.
Target therapy is successfully carried out abroad, but in our country it is not given adequate attention. This is one of the indirect shortcomings of such treatment.
Indications
Target therapy has specific indications:
- Severe condition of the oncogene, in which it is impossible to use the usual chemotherapy or surgical treatment;
- To reduce the dosage of radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs;
- Prevention of metastasis and re-development of the tumor;
- To stop tumor growth.
Such treatment can not eliminate tumor processes, it only stops them.
Preparations
Today dozens of targeted therapy drugs are already actively used in cancer practice for the treatment of cancer.
Here are the most famous:
- Avastin. The components of the drug destroy the vasculature of the formation, causing the death of cancer cells. The drug is used in the treatment of renal, pulmonary and mammary cancer;
- Herceptin. The active substances of the drug act directly on the factors of tumor growth. The drug is used primarily in the treatment of breast cancer, increasing the survival rate of cancer patients by 40%;
- Sorafenib. The drug stops tumor growth, facilitates cancer symptoms and improves the overall well-being of patients;
- Tarceva or Erlotinib. This drug is used to treat malignant oncology of the pancreas and esophagus, kidneys and pulmonary structures.
Hundreds of targeted drugs are still undergoing clinical trials and, if successfully completed, will add to the list of clever anti-cancer drugs.
Targeted therapy in oncology
A similar treatment method is often called molecular targeting therapy. The drugs are used in such treatment not only independently, but also in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
For breast cancer
For breast cancer, specific targeted drugs are used, the mechanism of action of which is based on the blocking of cellular estrogen receptors. These drugs among targeted drugs are considered the very first to be used in anticancer treatment.
The most famous of these drugs are:
- Toremifene;
- Tamoxifen;
- Fareston;
- Fazlodex;
- Fulvestrant.
These targeted drugs block estrogen receptors and prevent the addition of estrogen, thereby inhibiting genes that stimulate the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Also used in the treatment of breast cancer are aromatase inhibitors. These are also targeted drugs, but of a different class. They inhibit the production of aromatase - a specific enzyme necessary for the production of estrogen hormone.
As a result of taking such drugs, there is a decrease in the estrogen level, which helps to suppress the vital activity of cancer cell structures.
The maximum antitumor efficacy of these drugs is observed in women after menopause, when the ovaries no longer function at full strength. Only in such patients, a blockade of aromatase production is possible.
Known aromatase inhibitors include: Exemestane, Anastrozole, Letrozole, Aromazine, Arimidex, Femara, etc.
With kidney cancer
In renal cancer, targeted therapy is also recommended.
The essence of the treatment is the impact of drugs that prevent the formation of new vascular components and prevent further metastasis.
Directly with cancer of kidney structures, the following targeted drugs are used:
- Avastin;
- Torisel;
- Nexavar;
- Sunitinib.
These drugs are not suitable for all patients completely, therefore only the specialist is engaged in the appointment.
Despite the high therapeutic effect, targeted therapy for renal cancer is accompanied by a number of side effects such as a nausea-vomiting syndrome, elevated blood pressure, dermatitis and stool disorders. But such reactions are observed quite rarely and not so brightly, as, for example, with chemotherapy and other methods of treatment.
Oncology of the lungs
Pulmonary cancer is difficult to detect at the initial stages, because it has a rather meager clinical picture. According to statistics, 75% of patients with primary detection of lung cancer have an inoperable stage of pathology.
In such a situation, targeted therapy becomes vital, because it acts as a priority treatment method.
In pulmonary cancer, targeted drugs stop the progression of non-small cell cancer due to disruption of biochemical chain reactions.
In the treatment of oncology of such localization, targeted drugs of such classes are used:
- Enzyme blockers - Crysotinib, Glivec, Iressa, Bortezonib, Gefitinib, etc.;
- Specific immunoglobulins or monoclonal antibodies - Cetuximab, Trastuzumab, Herceptin, Bevacizumab, MAV-17-1A, etc.;
- Vascular blockage blockers that disrupt the nutrition of the tumor and cause the death of its cells.
Reviews
Elena:
When I was given a grade 3 renal cancer with metastases, I was just dumbfounded. Financial opportunities allowed to undergo treatment abroad. She went to Israel, where she underwent treatment for targeted therapy. As a result, metastases decreased and continue to decrease. I continue treatment with tablets at home, periodically I pass a survey, the picture of pathology is getting better and better.
IRA:
I was scared of chemotherapy, so I decided to target. I do not regret, as the spread of metastases ceased. The second year has gone, remission continues. Doctors say that the cancer from an aggressive form passed into a chronic. I do not know what I'll do when the finances for the treatment run out. But so far I hope for the best.
How much does the treatment cost?
The price of targeted therapy is its significant drawback, because the cost of drugs is incredibly high.
For example, 1 bottle:
- Avastin will cost 16 thousand rubles;
- Herceptin - about 35 thousand rubles;
- Imatinib - 40-43 thousand rubles;
- Tarceva - 70-76 thousand rubles.
So, we will sum up. Target treatment for most patients acts as a life-saving saving straw. Especially recommended is a similar therapy for inoperable cancers. Yes, the treatment is very expensive, but effective.
Video about the general principles of targeted therapy for tumors: