Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology

Over the past decade of years, targeted therapies which include monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and small molecule inhibitors have extensively changed the treatment patterns of cancer even though conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the treatment of choice for many malignancies. The objective of this review is to analyse the available targeted cancer therapies in the market. Most of the standard chemotherapies act on both rapidly dividing normal as well as cancerous cells, whereas targeted therapies acts on specific molecular targets that are associated with cancer and thereby offer the prospect of more effective cancer treatment, with fewer side effects. As more persons are diagnosed with cancer and as these patients live longer, primary care physicians will increasingly provide care for patients who have received targeted cancer therapy. Unfortunately, many of the more recent targeted therapies are not as successful over time.