Targeted therapy includes newer types of drugs that target specific features of cancer cells and interrupt their growth. These medicines are usually given by mouth (pill or liquid) or through a vein (intravenous or IV). Some targeted therapies could also be considered immunotherapies.
Depending on the type of targeted therapy, the drug acts on a marker of a cancer cell. Markers of a cell can be on the outside of the cancer cell, where it receives messages from other cells, or inside the cancer cell, where cell activity takes place or genetic information is stored.
Once the drug finds a cell to target, it disrupts a normal process of the cell and causes it to die. A targeted therapy drug may also cause blood vessels to be cut off from cancer cells causing them to die.
These new kinds of medicines are the focus of childhood cancer research because they lessen the damage to healthy cells. Decreasing damage to healthy cells may help reduce side effects and late effects.
