Targeted Therapy For Cancer: Types And Costs
Cancer is a disease that can affect various organs, glands, and structures within the body, like the thyroid, oesophagus, testicle, and skin. It can develop in almost any body part and is characterized by cancerous cells forming malignant tumours. These tumours can grow uncontrollably and spread to nearby tissues and organs.
Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation are often prescribed for cancer patients. However, targeted therapy, a type of precision medicine, is being increasingly used. Whether or not targeted therapy can treat an individual’s cancer depends heavily on the type and stage of cancer, genetic mutations and other factors.
Since each type of cancer needs to be treated differently, there is no universal treatment; instead, cancer treatment is tailored to fit each individual.
What is targeted therapy for cancer?
Targeted therapy is one of the many types of cancer treatments. With targeted therapy, drugs target specific genes and proteins that fuel the survival and growth of cancer cells. This is because targeted therapy can affect the environment of the tissues that cancer cells grow in, by making it hostile or preventing the proliferation of cells that aid cancer growth, like blood vessel cells.
Targeted therapy has been used to treat numerous types of cancer and has been approved for over 15 types of cancer, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer. It’s often used in tandem with other cancer treatments, like chemotherapy.
Types of targeted therapy for cancer
There are different types of cancer, and each type has different genetic changes that contribute to its development and spread. As a result, there are various types of targeted therapies developed to target different types of cancer.
Small molecule drugs
As the name suggests, these drugs are small enough to enter the cells in the body with ease. These drugs work by blocking signals that activate the growth of tumour cells, hence stopping the process that allows cancerous cells to reproduce and spread throughout the body.
Monoclonal antibodies
Also known as therapeutic antibodies, these monoclonal antibodies are lab-created proteins. These proteins are built to attach to specific targets of cancer cells.
Some monoclonal antibodies mark cancer cells, making it easier for the immune system to recognise and destroy them. Other monoclonal antibodies directly halt the growth of cancer cells or cause them to self-destruct.
They can also accelerate the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy by allowing the substances from these treatment modalities to reach the cancerous cells better.
Hormonal therapies
This therapy starves the cancerous cells of the hormones they need to grow. For example, some prostate and breast cancers require certain hormones to develop and spread. Hormonal therapies as targeted therapy can either prevent the body from producing those required hormones or keep the hormones from functioning.
Signal transduction inhibitors
These inhibitors block signals that trigger cancerous cells to divide at accelerated rates and spread. This treatment disrupts the messaging system for the cancer cells and prevents its multiplication and spread.
Gene expression modulators
This targeted therapy alters the proteins that regulate gene expression in cancer cells.
Apoptosis inducers
Cells die when old or damaged since the body no longer needs them. However, cancer cells don’t adhere to this natural process and, thus, avoid cell death. Apoptosis inducers can force cancer cells to go through cell death.
Angiogenesis inhibitors
Cells require a steady supply of blood flow for growth and development. This is also true for cancerous cells. With angiogenesis inhibitors, tumours in cancerous cells are deprived of the transportation of blood cells, so they cannot grow. When the blood supply is cut off, the tumours stay small or shrink from the lack of blood flow.
Immunotherapies
This method of targeted therapy utilises substances that are either naturally produced by the body or created in the lab to boost the immune system further. They work by helping the body locate and destroy cancer cells.
How does targeted therapy work?
Targeted therapy works in six primary ways.
Stop cancer cells from growing
Targeted therapy can interrupt the signals that direct cancer cells to grow and divide rapidly. It interferes with proteins that drive the growth and development of cancer cells, ultimately slowing and stopping cancer growth.
Help the immune system destroy cancerous cells
Targeted therapies can mark cancer cells, making it easier for the immune system to locate and destroy them. Additionally, some targeted therapies can boost the immune system to respond better when encountering cancerous cells.
Interfere with signals that aid in forming blood vessels
Tumours of cancer cells depend on new blood vessels to grow and spread. A targeted therapy known as angiogenesis inhibitors prevents blood supply by preventing blood vessels from forming. Hence the tumours remain small and shrink.
Mark cancer cells for destruction
Some monoclonal antibodies can significantly impact cancer cells when combined with toxic substances from chemotherapy and radiation. They attach themselves to the surfaces of cancer cells, so that they may be better recognized and destroyed by the immune system.
Cause cancer cells to die
Cells die naturally once damaged and no longer needed by the body, but cancer cells can avoid this natural death. Fortunately, certain targeted therapies, like apoptosis inducers, can force cancer cells to die.
Starve cancer of hormones
Hormonal therapies can prevent the production of certain hormones that cancer cells depend upon for growth and can prevent hormones from acting on the cancer cells.
Targeted therapy for cancer examples
The following are some examples of targeted therapy in practice.
Targeted therapy for breast cancer
Hormone therapy can be utilised to treat breast cancer. For example, medicines like tamoxifen can block the effects oestrogen on cancer cells.
Besides that, there is also a protein outside of cells known as HER2 receptors, which pick up signals and inform cells to grow and divide. Breast cancer cells that are positive for HER2 mutation produce this protein in excess, signalling the cancer cells to grow rapidly. Breast cancer medication like trastuzumab can slow or stop the transfer of messages by latching onto HER2 receptor proteins.
Targeted therapy for lung cancer
Targeted therapies for lung cancer are continuously changing due to new and upcoming scientific research. Many of these targeted therapies have been approved to treat non-small cell lung cancer.
Targeted therapy for colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer usually produces a protein known as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in excess. Some drugs can block the production of EGFR, which can aid in stopping and slowing the growth of cancer cells.
Apart from that, there is also a drug called anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an anti-angiogenesis therapy targeting various proteins involved in blood vessel growth process.
Side effects of targeted therapy
While targeted therapy is beneficial in destroying cancer cells, there are side effects that an individual may face, including:
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Diarrhoea
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Dry skin
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Cardiotoxicity
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Elevated liver enzymes
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Sensitivity to ultraviolet light
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High blood pressure
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Loss of hair colour
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Baldness or hair loss
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Changes in nails
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Sores on toenails and fingernails
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Skin rashes
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Problems with wound healing and blood clotting
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Interstitial lung disease
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Heart rhythm changes
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Neurologic changes
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Fatigue
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Mouth sores
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Red, swollen eyelids
There are medicines available that can mitigate, manage, and treat these side effects, so it is best to ask a medical professional what medicines are best to consume.
Targeted therapies are also be combined with other treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation, so there is always the possibility of dealing with side effects from that as well. However, these side effects tend to go away once treatments end.
How long does targeted therapy for cancer last?
The duration of a targeted therapy treatment depends on the treatment's goal, the cancer cells' response to the treatment, and the side effects that ensue.
Usually, medication for targeted therapy would need to be taken for many months, sometimes even years. Therefore, it is advised to discuss with a doctor for a more comprehensive and detailed outlook regarding an individual’s needs.
Targeted therapy for cancer cost
The cost of a targeted therapy treatment varies depending on the type and length of treatment and medication prescribed. Thus, knowing the price before beginning a cancer treatment is important to know what insurance can cover for you.
Does insurance cover targeted therapy for cancer?
You probably already know that critical illness insurance covers cancer. However, precision medicine, such as targeted therapy, is still relatively new and might not be covered by traditional critical illness policies. The good news is that some insurance providers have started covering targeted therapy for cancer, so you’ll want to make sure to add it to your current rider if you’re not yet covered.
Where can I buy insurance for cancer?
You can buy insurance for cancer from many insurance companies. For example, Prudential’s PRUCancer X has a payout of up to RM2 million so that you can receive the best treatments and recover without worrying about finances.
Additionally, Prudential has recently announced that in addition to surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, targeted therapy (a form of precision medicine) is now a covered treatment for cancer.
Conclusion
Cancer is a disease that has become quite prevalent within our society. However, with the advancement of modern medicine and scientific research, targeted therapies have become one of the critical responses to the fight against cancer.
Having said that, cancer is a costly disease to treat, and it can cause a financial strain on individuals who may unexpectedly get this diagnosis and are required to bear the cost. However, there are insurance plans at Prudential that can help individuals ensure they get the best possible treatment while being financially secured.