Treatment basics · 5 min read
What is targeted therapy?
Targeted therapy uses drugs that focus on specific molecules or changes that help cancer cells grow, divide, or spread.
Written by OncosAI Editorial Team · Editorial review 2026-07-04
Key takeaways
- Targeted therapy is different from traditional chemotherapy.
- Many targeted therapies require biomarker or mutation testing first.
- Side effects can still happen and vary by drug.
- Ask what target the drug is aimed at and how response will be monitored.
The simple version
Targeted therapy is designed around specific features of cancer cells. Some drugs block growth signals. Others interfere with blood vessel growth, DNA repair, or other pathways cancer cells depend on.
This does not mean it only affects cancer cells. Healthy cells can share some pathways, so side effects are still possible.
Why testing matters
A targeted drug may only make sense if the cancer has the target the drug is built for. That is why biomarker testing, tumor genetic testing, or other lab results can be central to deciding whether a targeted therapy is relevant.
Questions to ask
- What target or biomarker does this drug require?
- Was my tumor tested for that target?
- Is this treatment meant to cure, control, or shrink the cancer?
- What side effects are common with this specific drug?
- How will we know whether it is working?
Sources
- National Cancer Institute: Targeted Therapy for Cancer — NCI overview of targeted therapies and precision medicine.
- NCI: List of Targeted Therapy Drugs — NCI list of targeted therapy drugs approved for specific cancers.
This guide is educational and does not replace advice from your oncology care team.