“All About Cancer and Targeted Therapy”

 Targeted cancer therapies have revolutionized oncology by focusing on specific molecular pathways that drive tumor growth. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which affects both cancerous and healthy cells, targeted treatments aim to minimize collateral damage, offering improved efficacy and reduced side effects.


Current Developments

Recent advancements highlight the potential of targeted therapies:

  • Breast Cancer: A combination of inavolisib and palbociclib with fulvestrant has shown to extend overall survival by seven months and delay disease progression by 17.2 months in patients with PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer . 
  • Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): Gilead’s Trodelvy, combined with Merck’s Keytruda, reduced cancer progression risk by 35% in PD-L1 positive TNBC patients, establishing a potential new first-line treatment standard . 
  • BRCA-Mutated Breast Cancer: A novel treatment combining chemotherapy with olaparib achieved a 100% three-year survival rate in patients with aggressive BRCA1/2 mutations, marking a significant breakthrough . 

Commercialization Timeline

Many targeted therapies are already approved and in clinical use. For instance, CAR T-cell therapies have been approved for certain blood cancers since 2017. Emerging treatments, such as the inavolisib regimen, are undergoing clinical trials and may become commercially available within the next few years, pending regulatory approvals.


Targeted therapies often come with high costs:

  • CAR T-Cell Therapy: Treatment costs range from $373,000 to $475,000 per patient in the U.S. . However, in India, a homegrown version called NexCAR19 is available at a significantly reduced cost of $30,000 to $40,000 . 
  • Other Targeted Drugs: Monthly costs vary widely, with cetuximab priced up to $30,000 for an eight-week course . 

Advantages:

  • Precision: Targets specific cancer cells, reducing harm to healthy tissues. 
  • Efficacy: Improved outcomes in cancers with identifiable mutations. 
  • Quality of Life: Fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.

Disadvantages:

  • Cost: High treatment expenses can limit accessibility. 
  • Resistance: Cancer cells may develop resistance over time.
  • Eligibility: Not all patients have tumors with targetable mutations. 


Future Directions

To enhance the effectiveness of targeted therapies:

  • Biomarker Research: Identifying new biomarkers to expand treatment eligibility. 
  • Combination Therapies: Integrating targeted therapies with immunotherapies or chemotherapy to overcome resistance.
  • Cost Reduction: Developing cost-effective manufacturing processes to make treatments more accessible globally.

References

  • “Breakthrough breast cancer therapy can slow advance of disease and prolong survival” – The Guardian, May 31, 2025. 
  • “Gilead’s Trodelvy, with Keytruda, cuts breast cancer risk by 35% in trial” – Reuters, May 31, 2025. 
  • “Groundbreaking new treatment for aggressive breast cancer has 100% survival rate” – New York Post, May 30, 2025. 
  • “CAR T Cell Therapy Costs: Treatment Price Guide 2024” – HealthWith. 
  • “Cetuximab” – Wikipedia. 
  • “Cutting-edge CAR-T cancer therapy is now made in India — at one-tenth the cost” – Reddit, March 22, 2024. 
  • “Targeted Therapy vs. Chemotherapy: Cost, Effectiveness & Side Effects” – Oncare Cancer. 
  • “Cost analysis of targeted and immunotherapies in operable esophageal and non-small cell lung cancers” – Journal of Clinical Oncology. 
  • “New Gastric Cancer treatments 2024” – Everyone.org. 


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