Targeted Therapy — What It Means in Clinical Trials

Plain English Definition

Targeted therapy uses drugs designed to attack specific molecules or pathways that cancer cells depend on to grow and survive. Unlike chemotherapy, which kills all rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapy aims to hit only the cancer while sparing healthy cells. You usually need a specific biomarker to qualify for targeted therapy trials.

Why It Matters

Targeted therapies tend to have fewer side effects than chemotherapy because they are more precise. If your tumor has a specific genetic mutation, a targeted therapy trial may be available for you.

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