Cancer Targeted Therapy

Cancer Targeted Therapy

What does it mean when we talk about “Targeted Therapy”?

As a sort of cancer treatment, targeted therapy employs medications that are intended to specifically target cancer cells while ignoring healthy cells.

It is common for cancer cells to contain gene mutations that make them distinct from normal ones. Genes are instructions that are encoded in the DNA of a cell. Certain gene modifications alter the behaviour of a cell in a unique way. Gene mutations in cancer cells, for example, may cause the cell to proliferate and divide at an accelerated rate. It is because of these alterations that a cell is classified as cancerous.

What is the process through which a targeted treatment is carried out?

Every tissue in your body is composed of a diverse range of cells. Blood cells, brain cells, and skin cells are a few examples. Each category has a certain role to play. Over time, specific genes in healthy cells begin to mutate and become aberrant, and this is what causes cancer to develop. A genetic mutation is the term for this transformation.

Genes instruct cells on how to produce the proteins they need to function properly. These proteins change if the genes do, too. This may cause cells to divide excessively or rapidly, allowing them to survive longer than they would otherwise. Toxic cells begin to create tumors when this occurs.

Determine the genetic modifications that allow a tumor to grow and evolve in order to design targeted treatments. A protein that is only found in cancer cells but not in healthy ones might be a possible target for this treatment. A mutation may be the root of this issue. Treatments for particular mutations are developed when researchers have found a mutation.

Different actions may be done to the cancer cells that are the focus of targeted therapies:

  1. Make it impossible for cancer cells to grow and reproduce.
  2. Make sure that the cells don’t live longer than they should.
  3. Destroy the malignant cells.

Your doctor may request tests to identify the specific genes, proteins, and other components of your tumour so that the most effective targeted treatment may be prescribed. This aids in the selection of the best therapy.

Advances in Radiation Therapy:

Old existing techniques

2D and 3D CRT (Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy)

Conventional (2D) radiation therapy refers to the old techniques of radiation therapy where treatments would be planned by defining a limited number of beams with the boundaries delineated on orthogonal x-rays of the patient. It has been largely replaced by other highly conformal radiation techniques.

3D CRT is cutting-edge method utilizes imaging technology to create three-dimensional pictures of a patient’s tumor and surrounding organs and tissues before administering radiation treatment. The treatment team of a patient may devise a highly precise strategy to administer a focused dose of radiation to a tumour using this specific information. As a consequence, malignant cells may get a larger and more effective dosage of radiation.

The present Advances

Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT):

For instance, IMRT is a sort of conformal radiation. The radiation beams in conformal radiotherapy are shaped to precisely suit the cancerous region. For various cancers, including breast and prostate, IMRT is the conventional therapy.

Image guided radiotherapy (IGRT)

It is a sort of cancer treatment that employs imaging technologies like PET, MRI, and CT to more precisely and securely administer Radiation to cancerous cells. During therapy, doctors may see precisely where a tumor is in the body using imaging technology built into linear accelerators, which are used to administer radiation.

The key benefit is that it is very accurate.

  1. It destroys the cancer with greater doses of radiation.
  2. It protects healthy tissue from damage.
  3. It minimizes the risk of Radiation adverse effects.

New Day pecision therapy done with new technologies now available in Pushpanjali Cancer Care Institute

RapidArc Radiation Therapy

Intensity modulated radiation treatment is combined with linear accelerator rotating arc delivery in RapidArc Radiation therapy. The accelerator gantry is rotated 360 degrees while the beam is focused on the target during treatment. The most advanced treatment delivery methods are made possible by this dynamic combination of software and hardware.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and (stereotactic body radiotherapy) SBRT with flattened beams

Non-surgical radiation treatment, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), is used to treat functional impairments and tiny brain malignancies. In comparison to standard radiation therapy, it can provide more precisely-targeted radiation in fewer high-dose sessions, which helps protect healthy tissue. It is termed stereotactic body radiotherapy when SRS is used to treat cancers in the body (SBRT).

On a typical outpatient basis, SRS and SBRT are often used. Doctors at Pushpanjali hospital will help you to find out whether you need to arrange a ride home after the procedure and if you should avoid eating, drinking, or taking medicine for at least several hours before the procedure. If you think you could be pregnant, if you’re nursing, or if you’re on diabetic medicine or insulin, tell the doctor right away.

DIBH (Deep Inspiratory breath hold)

Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) is a technique that takes advantage of a more favorable position of the heart during inspiration to minimize heart doses over a course of radiation therapy. 

To examine and treat Cancer, Pushpanjali Hospital has created a number of specialized multidisciplinary teams, which means that physicians and nurses from many disciplines collaborate with each patient to build the optimal treatment plan for their unique circumstances. We’re making strides in cancer care and research, one patient at a time, to prevent, detect, and treat cancer. As a patient, you will be treated by a team of experts who will assess your unique situation and utilize the most up-to-date cancer information to give you the best chance of survival.

Leave A Reply

×