Lung Cancer Treatments – Targeted Drug Therapy
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Targeted Drug Therapy for Lung Cancer
In addition to chemotherapy, the lung cancer team at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) uses a variety of targeted drugs for lung cancer treatment. Targeted drug therapies block the growth and spread of cancer by preventing cancer cells from dividing or destroying them directly.
Unlike chemotherapy, which affects all cells in the body, targeted drugs block or kill cancer cells and spare more healthy cells, reducing side effects and improving your quality of life. Two targeted drugs used at CTCA for the treatment of some lung cancers are Iressa (gefitinib) and Tarceva (erlotinib). Both are taken in pill form and target a gene mutation in tumor cells. Patients who have this mutation are more likely to be responsive to this type of treatment.
Targeted cancer therapies may be used alone, in combination with other targeted therapies, or with other lung cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and Interventional Pulmonology.
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