Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment. It uses drugs to target specific genes and proteins that help cancer cells survive and grow. Targeted therapy can affect the tissue environment that cancer cells grow in or it can target cells related to cancer growth, like blood vessel cells.
Dr. Lalit Banswal is a highly experienced and renowned Cancer Specialist in Pune, known for his expertise in targeted therapy. With over 12 years of surgical experience, he has successfully performed more than 10,000 complex cancer surgeries, making him one of the most trusted names in cancer treatment. Currently, Dr. Banswal serves as the Chief Cancer Surgeon and Director at PrecisionPlus Superspeciality Hospital in Undri, Pune. For patients requiring non-surgical cancer treatments, he provides Chemotherapy and Molecular Targeted Therapies, Using the latest advancements in medical oncology. These treatments focus on targeting cancer cells while reducing side effects, ensuring a more precise and effective approach to cancer management.
What is Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is an advanced cancer treatment treatment that targets certain chemicals and cellular pathways which stimulate the growth of cancer. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which affects all rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapy precisely attacks cancerous cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissues.
Targeted therapy can treat many different types of cancer. It can also be used in combination with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy. Currently, not all cancers have targeted therapies available, but this is a rapidly growing area of research and many new targeted therapies are being studied in clinical trials.
How Does Targeted Therapy Work to Treat Cancer?
Many types of cells make up the different regions of the body. For example, there are blood cells, brain cells, and skin cells. Each type has its job. Cancer begins when specific genes in healthy cells change and become abnormal over time. This change is called a genetic mutation or alteration.
Genes tell cells how to make proteins to keep the cell working. If the genes mutate, these proteins change, too. This can make cells divide too much or too quickly. When this happens, the cells live much longer than they normally would. These cells grow out of control and form a tumor.
To develop targeted therapies, researchers first identify specific genetic mutations that contribute to tumor growth. These mutations become the drug’s target, typically a protein found in cancer cells but not in healthy cells. Once a target is identified, scientists develop drugs that attack cancer cells in various ways:
✅ Blocking or turning off signals that tell cancer cells to grow and divide
✅ Preventing cancer cells from surviving longer than normal
✅ Destroying cancer cells by interfering with essential processes
Since each cancer is unique, targeted therapy requires advanced molecular testing to determine the most effective treatment. Dr. Lalit Banswal, a leading Cancer Surgoen and Robotic Surgeon in Pune, uses state-of-the-art diagnostics to identify the genetic profile of a tumor. This ensures that each patient receives a personalized treatment plan for the best possible outcome.
What are the Different Types of Targeted Therapy?
There are several different types of targeted therapy. The most common types are monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule drugs.
- Monoclonal antibodies. Drugs called monoclonal antibodies block a specific target on the outside of cancer cells. The target might also be in the area around the cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies can also send toxic substances right to cancer cells. For example, they can help chemotherapy and radiation therapy reach cancer cells better. Some monoclonal antibodies are also considered a type of immunotherapy, while others are not.
- Small-molecule drugs. Drugs called small-molecule drugs can block the process that helps cancer cells multiply and spread. Angiogenesis inhibitors are an example of this type of targeted therapy. Angiogenesis is the process for making new blood vessels. Tumors need blood vessels to bring it nutrients. Angiogenesis inhibitors starve the tumor by keeping new blood vessels from forming in the tissue around it.
Are there Limitations to Targeted Therapy?
As with any cancer treatment, targeted therapy may not be the best treatment for every person with cancer. It may seem simple to use a drug for your specific cancer, but targeted therapy is complex, and it may not be the right drug for you. It is important to know that:
- A targeted treatment will not work if the tumor does not have the specific genetic change or protein the drug targets
- Even if you have the specific genetic change or protein the drug targets, it’s possible the tumor will not respond to the drug
- The response to the treatment may not last over time
For example, the target may not be as important for the cancer’s growth as previously thought, so the drug does not provide much benefit. Or cells may become resistant to targeted therapy, so the drug may work at first but then stop working overtime. If this happens, the doctor will talk with you about other treatment options.
Looking for Targeted Therapy in Pune?
Dr. Lalit Banswal is the Best oncologist in Pune with experience of more than 10 years. He has special interests in chemotherapy treatment. For more information about cancer and treatment options, or to book an appointment with the Cancer Specialist in Pune call +91 91580 50180 / 8830497317 or Click on Book Appointment for online booking.