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Traditional cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, radiation
therapy, and surgery, have been used to fight cancer since the early 20th
century. But as our understanding of cancer evolves, the focus is shifting
toward more personalized cancer treatments, also known as precision medicine.
In this newer approach to patient care, your doctor selects treatments based on
tumor genes, which are unique to you. Since treatment is based on your
particular genes, a personalized medicine treatment that works well for you may
not be as beneficial to someone else.
It’s now known that tumors have certain genetic changes that
make them different from normal, healthy cells. These changes cause your cancer
to grow, evade detection, and spread. Using a precision medicine approach to
treatment, your doctor may be able to develop a plan to more effectively treat
you by targeting your cancer’s specific genetic changes. However, it’s
important to understand that some types of cancer respond to this type of
therapy better than others. Because research into personalized medicine is
still evolving, be sure to talk with your doctor about any options that may be
right for you.
Targeted Therapies Offer More Personalized Medicine
The field of precision medicine is still relatively new, but
already many hospitals are using targeted therapies to treat various types of
cancer. These treatments work by controlling the growth, division, and spread
of cancer cells. Some targeted therapies also influence cellular signals, or certain
chemical messengers released from cells, that prevent tumor cells from
multiplying or cause the cancer cells to die.
Because cancer is such a complex condition, targeted treatments
aren’t a one-size-fits-all option. Your cancer may include multiple genetic factors
that need to be targeted for treatment to be effective. These factors could
include genetic mutations caused by damage from environmental sources, such as
ultraviolet (UV) light, tobacco smoke, or viruses. Or, they could be mutations
that were passed on to you from your parents or grandparents.
Currently, there are several types of targeted therapies that
are used in personalized medicine.
-
Monoclonal
antibodies — this treatment works by targeting specific cellular components,
called antigens, that appear on the surface of cancer cells, or in areas of the
body surrounding tumors. In healthy tissues, antigens are used as a signal to alert
your immune system, letting your body know there is a foreign invader, like a
virus, or other harmful object to fight. Monoclonal antibodies are used to identify
cancer antigens, thereby recruiting your immune system to fight and destroy
your cancer; using your own body to fight the disease. -
Angiogenesis
inhibitors — in order to grow and spread, tumors need access to nutrients and
oxygen. Normally, cancer cells get both from small networks of blood vessels
that grow in and around tumors. This type of cancer treatment stops the
formation of these new blood vessels, cutting cancer off from what it needs to
keep growing. -
Apoptosis-inducing
medications — normally, cells die when their DNA is too damaged to repair. This
is a natural process that occurs throughout your life. Cancer cells already
have damaged DNA, and this approach to personalized medicine can be used to influence
how certain cells send chemical messages that control the process of cellular
death. -
Hormone
treatments — some cancers are especially sensitive to hormones and require them
to spread. This type of treatment can help stop your body from making the
hormones your cancer needs to grow. They may also work by interfering with the
action of certain hormones within your body. -
Signal
transduction inhibitors — all cells in your body, including cancer cells,
respond to a variety of signals from their surrounding environment in the body.
Some types of cancer receive inappropriate signals that cause the cancer cells
to grow continuously. These treatments work to stop this signaling, which can
help stop the growth of certain types of cancer, like breast or lung cancer.
Starting Personalized Medicine Treatments
Before beginning any precision medicine treatments, your
cancer must be tested to see if there are any genetic changes that can be
targeted, like mutations caused by environmental factors or certain chemical traits
that influence whether a particular gene is activated. This field of medicine
is rapidly expanding. There are many different types of precision medicine
treatments currently being studied in clinical trials, and you may be able to
qualify for one of these studies depending on your situation.
Decades
of research have already made more personalized cancer care possible, and the
field of precision medicine is still developing. A precision approach to cancer
treatment means you could benefit from a more customized plan for dealing with
your cancer. If you’re interested in this approach, connect with your doctor to
see if you may be able to receive a targeted treatment that’s precisely tailored
to your individual needs.
