What does "targeted drug" mean?
May 15, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Shuwen
Introduction
Targeted drugs usually work by binding to specific receptors on the surface of tumor cells or by interfering with intracellular signaling pathways, primarily inhibiting the growth and spread of tumor cells. Compared to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, targeted drugs are more precise, effectively eliminating tumor cells while sparing healthy cells in the body.
Targeted therapy is a treatment approach that uses drugs to selectively act on specific molecular targets in tumor cells or their surrounding environment, thereby inhibiting tumor cell growth and spread. It is commonly used in the treatment of cancer. A detailed analysis is as follows:
Targeted drugs typically work by binding to specific receptors on the surface of tumor cells or by interfering with intracellular signaling pathways. Their main function is to inhibit tumor cell growth and metastasis. Compared with conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, targeted therapy is more precise, effectively killing tumor cells while sparing healthy cells in the body. It is thus a widely used clinical treatment method. Targeted drugs can be used to treat various cancers, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, and others. Commonly used clinical targeted drugs include those targeting HER2, EGFR, VEGF, and other molecules.
It should be noted that although targeted drugs offer significant therapeutic benefits, they may also cause substantial side effects. Therefore, these medications should be used under the guidance of a physician and require close monitoring and management throughout treatment.
