What is targeted therapy?

Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets proteins that control how cancer cells grow, divide, and spread. According to the National Cancer Institute, it is the foundation of precision medicine. As researchers learn more about the DNA changes and proteins that drive cancer, they are better able to design treatments that target these proteins.

Most targeted therapies are either small-molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies. Small-molecule drugs are small enough to enter cells easily, so they are used for targets inside cells. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins designed to attach to specific targets on cancer cells.

Targeted therapy works differently from chemotherapy, which often kills all cells that grow and divide quickly. Often, your tumor will need to be tested first — called biomarker testing — to see whether it has a target for which there is a drug. Your healthcare team can explain whether targeted therapy is an option for your cancer.