Targeted Therapy Vs Traditional Chemotherapy

Targeted therapies are specific for their target. Target molecules are predictive biomarkers for efficacy of the therapy; they make revolution in the treatment of cancer over the past years. They can be used in combination with traditional chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy.10 Unlike traditional chemotherapy, targeted therapy characterized by:
• They act on specific targets associated with cancer, whereas most traditional chemotherapies act on all rapidly dividing normal and cancerous cells.
• They are often cytostatic agents which block the proliferation of cancer cells by interfering with specific protein required for tumor development and growth. Whereas traditional chemotherapeutic agents are cytotoxic that kill tumor cells.
• In addition to prolonging survival in patient that incompatible with traditional
therapy especially elderly patients that have many medical problems that interfere with the use of standard chemotherapy .
• Targeted therapy also considers cost effectiveness therapy. Due to most small molecule inhibitors are used orally which eliminates some treatment costs, including those associated with intravenous infusions in traditional
chemotherapy.