Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that acts on specific genes, proteins or molecular pathways involved in cancer growth and survival. It is a central component of precision oncology and is prescribed when testing identifies a biomarker that is likely to respond to a particular medicine.
Unlike chemotherapy, which generally affects rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapies are designed to interfere with selected features of cancer cells. However, they may also affect healthy cells that use the same pathways and can cause treatment-specific side effects.
At Apollo Cancer Centres, medical oncologists use molecular test results, established clinical evidence and multidisciplinary expertise to determine whether targeted therapy is appropriate. Treatment plans are personalized according to the cancer type and stage, biomarker findings, previous treatments, overall health and therapeutic goals.
Why Targeted Therapy Is Required
Cancers with Actionable Biomarkers: Used when molecular or biomarker testing identifies an alteration for which an approved targeted treatment is available.
First-line Treatment: May be recommended as an initial treatment for selected cancers, such as certain EGFR-mutated lung cancers or HER2-positive cancers.
Treatment-resistant Cancer: A different targeted medicine may be considered when cancer develops resistance to an earlier treatment and testing identifies a new actionable alteration.
Advanced or Metastatic Cancer: Can help control selected cancers that have spread beyond their original site.
Treatment Before or After Surgery: Certain targeted therapies may be used before surgery to reduce tumour burden or after surgery to lower the risk of recurrence.
Combination Treatment: May be administered with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy or other targeted agents to improve treatment effectiveness in specific clinical settings.
Tumour-agnostic Treatment: Some targeted medicines are selected according to a biomarker (such as an NTRK gene fusion) rather than the part of the body where the cancer began.
Key Advantages
Side Effects of Targeted Therapy
- Skin rash, dryness or sensitivity
- Diarrhoea or other digestive changes
- Fatigue
- Nausea or reduced appetite
- Increased blood pressure
- Changes in liver or kidney function
- Changes in blood counts
- Mouth sores
- Nail or hair changes
- Heart, lung, eye or bleeding-related effects with certain medicines
Continuum of Care
At Apollo Cancer Centres, targeted therapy is planned by experienced medical oncologists with support from pathologists, molecular specialists, oncology pharmacists and multidisciplinary tumour boards. Biomarker results are carefully interpreted alongside the cancer type and stage, previous treatments, overall health and current clinical evidence.
Before treatment begins, patients receive clear guidance about how the medicine will be administered, possible side effects, interactions and the monitoring required. Throughout treatment, regular clinical reviews, laboratory investigations and imaging help the team evaluate safety and response. If the cancer changes or develops resistance, further molecular testing may be considered to guide the next stage of care.
