Targeted cancer therapy--are the days of systemic chemotherapy numbered?

ABSTRACT: Targeted therapy or molecular targeted therapy has been defined as a type of treatment that blocks the growth of cancer cells by interfering with specific cell molecules required for carcinogenesis and tumor growth, rather than by simply interfering with all rapidly dividing cells as with traditional chemotherapy. There is a growing number of FDA approved monoclonal antibodies and small molecules targeting specific types of cancer suggestive of the growing relevance of this therapeutic approach. Targeted cancer therapies, also referred to as "Personalized Medicine", are being studied for use alone, in combination with other targeted therapies, and in combination with chemotherapy. The objective of personalized medicine is the identification of patients that would benefit from a specific tr

SUBMITTER: Joo WD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4610026 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature