Targeted therapies are a type of cancer treatment that specifically targets cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, unlike traditional chemotherapy which can damage both healthy and cancerous cells. Targeted therapies work by targeting specific molecules, pathways, or mutations that are involved in cancer growth and progression. Since targeted therapies are designed to be more specific than chemotherapy, they can often be more effective and have fewer side effects.
Over the past few decades, the development of targeted therapies has revolutionized cancer treatment. The FDA has approved numerous targeted therapies for the treatment of various types of cancer. In this answer, I will provide some examples of targeted therapies that have been approved by the FDA.
Imatinib (Gleevec)
Imatinib was the first targeted therapy approved by the FDA in 2001 for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It targets the BCR-ABL fusion protein, which is present in over 90% of CML cases. Imatinib has been shown to induce high rates of complete hematologic and cytogenetic responses in patients with CML.
Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
Trastuzumab was approved by the FDA in 1998 for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. HER2 is a protein that is overexpressed in approximately 20% of breast cancers, and trastuzumab targets this protein. Trastuzumab has been shown to improve overall survival in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.
Bevacizumab (Avastin)
Bevacizumab was approved by the FDA in 2004 for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. It targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that stimulates the growth of new blood vessels. By inhibiting VEGF, bevacizumab can prevent the growth of blood vessels in tumors and thereby slow their growth.
Erlotinib (Tarceva)
Erlotinib was approved by the FDA in 2004 for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a protein that is overexpressed in many NSCLC tumors. Erlotinib has been shown to improve overall survival in patients with NSCLC.
Crizotinib (Xalkori)
Crizotinib was approved by the FDA in 2011 for the treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC. ALK is a protein that is overexpressed in a small subset of NSCLC tumors. Crizotinib targets ALK and has been shown to improve progression-free survival and overall response rate in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC.
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
Pembrolizumab was approved by the FDA in 2014 for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. It targets the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor, which is present on T cells. By blocking PD-1, pembrolizumab can re-activate T cells and enable them to attack cancer cells. Pembrolizumab has since been approved for the treatment of numerous other cancers, including NSCLC, bladder cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Olaparib (Lynparza)
Olaparib was approved by the FDA in 2014 for the treatment of BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer. It targets poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), an enzyme that is involved in DNA repair. By inhibiting PARP, olaparib can prevent the repair of damaged DNA in cancer cells and thereby induce cell death. Olaparib has since been approved for the treatment of other cancers, including breast cancer and pancreatic cancer.
In conclusion, targeted therapies are a type of cancer treatment that specifically targets cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. The FDA has approved numerous targeted therapies for the treatment of various types of cancer, including imatinib, trastuzumab, bevacizumab, erlotinib, crizotinib, pembrolizumab, and olaparib. These therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment and have improved outcomes for many patients.
