Cancer is a devastating illness. Mostly, because of how rapidly it spreads to other areas in the body. Because of this danger, researchers are developing treatments that have the ability to specifically target abnormal cells and then slow or stop those cells from growing and spreading. This method is known as targeted therapy. As scientists discover more about gene and protein changes, their focus is to develop new drugs that hone in and target those changes.

Targeted therapies offer an alternative treatment option to chemotherapy and radiationwith less severe side effects. The reason why there are fewer side effects is because targeted treatment specifically targets abnormal cells, versus chemotherapy and radiation, which cant distinguish between abnormal and healthy cells.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive, fatal disease that has seen rising cases over the past 60 years. A person with mesothelioma cancer is generally experiencing tumor growth in the lining (mesothelium) of the lungs, abdomen, or heart (pleura, peritoneum, or pericardium). Within the past few years, researchers have been testing the use of targeted therapies on mesothelioma patients in clinical trials.

There are two primary types of targeted therapies: monoclonal antibodies and molecule medicines. Molecule medicines are small enough to dive into cancer cells and obliterate them, and monoclonal antibodies fight cancer cells on the surface, or surrounding areas, and are too big to slip into cancer cells.

Sometimes, oncologists use monoclonal antibodies to launch chemotherapy and radiation treatments straight into tumors. This can occur through an IV in a vein, or as a shot. Monoclonal antibody medication treatments usually end with the stem -mab. Three monoclonal antibody types are:

One of the most common targeted therapies, signal transduction inhibitors block signals that tell cancer cells to divide too much and too fast.

This form of treatment blocks the growth of blood vessels that cancer cells form in order to retrieve nutrients and oxygen. In the case of mesothelioma and some other cancers, the target is a substance called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and utilizes the drug bevacizumab. Its usually administered in conjunction with chemotherapy medications pemetrexed and cisplatin.

This treatment utilizes the patients immune system to locate and destroy cancer cells. An oncologist can administer immunotherapies that boost the immune system to better attack cancer, or immunotherapies that highlight tumor cells so theyre quicker and easier for the immune system to find and attack.

This treatment is helpful in that it can penetrate cell membranes and interact with targets from the inside of a cell. Molecule medicines are designed to interrupt the enzymatic activity of a specified protein and generally end with the stem -ib. Three molecule medicine variations include:

Another form of targeted therapy, gene expression modulators modify the proteins that control the abnormal instruction or expression of genes in cancer cells.

When cells die after growing old or becoming damaged, this is called apoptosis. Cancer cells tend to avoid this natural process, and apoptosis inducers cause abnormal cells to go through normal cell death.

As with most cancer treatments, targeted treatments come with side effects. A patients experience with these side-effects varies, as each individuals case is unique. More common side effects include:

Rarer, but possible side effects of targeted treatments can include:

Your doctor may have some medications available to help relieve side effects, and its recommended you call or stop by their office if youre experiencing them.

A doctor will need to test your tumors to find targets the treatments can focus on. They may use a biopsy to take these tests, which consists of sampling the tumor and then checking it in a lab. Two patients with the same type of mesothelioma may not have the same targets, and some medications may be ineffective if you do not have certain gene mutations. An oncologist may have to administer other mesothelioma medications or treatments before targeted therapy can be applied.

You dont have to go through this alone. Your oncologist will have resources available if you have any questions or issues during any of your mesothelioma treatment. If targeted therapy sounds like an option for you, definitely run that by your cancer-care team, so they can fully assess whether thats the best option based on your health, mesothelioma stage, and other factors.

A mesothelioma diagnosis is a trying time for patients. Download our free guide to learn more about the disease.

Jennifer Verta thrives as a digital content writer and SEO specialist at Mesothelioma Hub. She has been producing content for clients since before she graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Minor in English Writing. Jens mission is to help promote awareness of mesothelioma to as many people as possible by providing only the most up-to-date and accurate content available. When she isnt cranking the gears at work, Jen can be found snowboarding, hiking, catching live music or socializing with friends.

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