Why is targeted therapy not suitable for all cancer patients?

The standard of living of people has been increasing, and with it, the incidence of cancer has been rising year by year. Nowadays, cancer seems to be more and more common.

However, with the development of science and technology, there are more means to treat cancer. Compared with the "three major means" of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy that were often used in the past, targeted therapy, with its remarkable efficacy and low toxicity, has made a big splash in the field of cancer treatment.

Targeted therapy is a new cancer treatment, and many patients are still confused about what it is and whether it has any drawbacks.

Superiority of targeted therapy: biological missile, precise treatment

Targeted therapy, that is, the treatment that allows the targeted drug to identify the oncogenic sites of tumor cells and bind to them, thus preventing the tumor cells from proliferating, and causing the tumor cells to die specifically.

If the process of removing cancer cells is compared to a war, there are not only enemies (cancer cells) but also teammates (normal cells) in this war. Chemotherapy is similar to an enemy weapon that harms not only the enemy but also its own people.

Targeted drugs, on the other hand, are like a precision-made missile, with cancer-causing sites as markers, and targeted therapy as a way to hit wherever it is needed. The idiom of "targeting the target" describes the principle of targeted therapy in layman's terms.

The benefits of targeted therapy are clear: not only can it be used to treat cancer precisely, but it can also greatly minimize the damage to the body.

Limitations of targeted therapies - best results with specific genes

Unfortunately, targeted therapies still have some shortcomings, which is why they can't completely replace chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Limitation 1--Drug resistance

Drug resistance is the biggest drawback of targeted therapy. At the beginning of treatment, targeted drugs may be effective.

However, after a period of time of continuous use of drugs, some patients will experience elevated tumor markers, tumor enlargement, and even tumor metastasis, which means that the cancer cells have developed drug resistance.

The reason for this situation is that during the treatment process, cancer cells will also undergo mutations, resulting in the disappearance of the sites targeted by the targeted drugs.

It's like a key and a lock with a one-to-one correspondence. The targeted drug is still the key, but the cancer cells are no longer the lock, so the key is naturally useless.

If a patient develops drug resistance during treatment, he or she should change the treatment plan in time and choose another targeted drug or other ways to continue treatment.

Limitation 2:-- Not every patient is suitable for targeted therapy

When carrying out targeted therapy, you can often see this phenomenon, obviously everyone is suffering from the same kind of cancer, why targeted drugs are only effective for some patients?

This is because not all patients have the same type of mutation, and a targeted drug is generally only effective for one type of mutation.

This feature ensures precise treatment with targeted therapy, but also leads to limitations of targeted therapy.

Therefore, genetic testing is necessary for everyone before targeted therapy. Only by identifying your genetic locus can you find the corresponding targeted drug.

Limitation 3--Expensive

The high price of targeted drugs discourages many patients. A box of drugs that can cost thousands of dollars is unaffordable for many patients from ordinary families.

Limitation 4 -- still have some side effects

While the side effects of targeted therapy are less severe compared to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it does not mean that it is completely free of side effects.

Some patients may experience mild adverse effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, etc., while a few patients may experience more serious adverse effects. Therefore, before using a targeted drug, it is important to familiarize yourself with its side effects and be prepared for them.

Targeted therapy is another important means of cancer treatment, and although its precision will bring more significant therapeutic effects to specific patients, it is not suitable for all people. In the course of treatment, people communicate closely with their doctors to choose the treatment that best suits their condition.