Her Fight is Our Mission

Targeted therapy is a major breakthrough in modern oncology, offering cancer treatment that is not only more effective but also more personalised and often better tolerated than traditional chemotherapy. As a central pillar of precision oncology, targeted therapy focuses on the unique molecular features of a patient's tumour to guide treatment decisions.

Unlike conventional therapies that affect both healthy and cancerous cells, targeted treatments are designed to disrupt specific genetic mutations or signalling pathways that allow cancer cells to grow and survive. This precision enables the expert medical oncologists at Apollo Athenaa Women’s Cancer Centre to deliver more focused care with improved outcomes and fewer systemic side effects.

How the Treatment Works

Targeted therapies act on molecular abnormalities specific to cancer cells. These may include:

• Gene mutations (like EGFR, ALK, BRAF, KRAS)
• Protein overexpression (like HER2)
• Abnormal signalling pathways (like PI3K/AKT/mTOR)

The two main forms of targeted therapy include:

• Small molecule inhibitors: These enter cancer cells and block internal signals essential for tumour growth.
• Monoclonal antibodies: These are lab-engineered proteins that attach to specific targets on the surface of cancer cells, blocking growth signals, flagging cells for immune destruction, or delivering toxins directly to the tumour.

Targeted therapies are often taken orally or administered via intravenous infusion. Their use depends on the presence of actionable biomarkers, which are identified through molecular and genetic testing of the tumour.

When It Is Used

Targeted therapy is used in a variety of clinical scenarios, including:

• First-line treatment for cancers with known driver mutations (like EGFR-mutated lung cancer, HER2-positive breast cancer, BRAF-mutated melanoma)
• Second-line or subsequent treatment when standard therapies fail or resistance develops
• As part of combination therapy with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or other targeted agents
• In tumour-agnostic settings, where a specific mutation (like NTRK fusion or MSI-H) is treated regardless of the cancer’s tissue of origin

Eligibility for targeted therapy is determined through comprehensive genomic profiling, which is part of Apollo Athenaa’s precision oncology workflow.

Common Side Effects 

While generally better tolerated than chemotherapy, targeted therapies can cause specific side effects related to the pathways they inhibit.

Common side effects include:

• Skin rash and dryness
• Diarrhoea
• Fatigue
• Elevated blood pressure
• Changes in liver function or blood counts
• Nail or hair texture changes

At Apollo Athenaa, all patients receiving targeted therapy are closely monitored through regular labs, symptom checklists, and scheduled reviews. Early management of side effects allows patients to continue therapy with minimal disruption.

Key Advantages

• Precision and Personalisation: Therapy is chosen based on a patient’s tumour-specific mutations, allowing for a highly individualised approach.
• Better Tolerability: Side effects are often milder and more manageable than those from traditional chemotherapy.
• Higher Efficacy in Select Cancers: Targeted therapy can significantly prolong survival and disease control in cancers that carry known actionable mutations.
• Tumour-Agnostic Potential: Certain drugs can treat cancers based on mutation rather than location, expanding treatment options for rare or difficult-to-treat cancers.
• Convenience: Many targeted therapies are oral, allowing patients to continue treatment from home under medical supervision.

Continuum of Care

The long-term success of targeted therapy depends on factors such as the type of mutation, disease burden, and development of resistance. While many patients achieve durable responses, resistance mechanisms like secondary mutations or pathway bypass can emerge.

Follow-up includes:

• Periodic imaging to monitor disease status
• Blood tests to assess organ function and detect emerging resistance
• Re-biopsy or liquid biopsy in case of progression, to identify new therapeutic targets
• Transition to combination regimens or next-generation inhibitors as needed

Apollo Athenaa’s molecular tumour board reviews each case to adapt treatment strategies in real-time, ensuring patients continue to benefit from the latest innovations in precision oncology. In today’s era of personalised medicine, targeted therapy plays a central role in cancer care, offering hope, extending survival, and improving quality of life.