Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy, in Plain Language

Q: What is targeted therapy?

Targeted therapy uses drugs designed to act on specific molecules or pathways that particular cancer cells depend on to grow, rather than affecting all rapidly dividing cells the way traditional chemotherapy does.

Q: How is that different from standard chemotherapy?

Traditional chemotherapy affects rapidly dividing cells throughout the body, including some healthy ones, which causes many of its common side effects. Targeted therapy aims more precisely at specific features of cancer cells, which can mean a different, sometimes more limited, side-effect profile — though targeted therapies have their own possible side effects too.

Q: What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy works by helping the body's own immune system recognise and attack cancer cells more effectively, rather than attacking the cancer directly with a drug the way chemotherapy does.

Q: Do targeted therapy and immunotherapy work for all cancer types?

No — these treatments are effective for specific cancer types and specific patients, often depending on particular genetic mutations or protein markers found in that person's tumour. Not every patient or every cancer type is a candidate.

Q: Are these treatments available and affordable in India?

Many targeted therapies and some immunotherapies are available in India, though cost and accessibility can vary significantly by specific drug and treatment centre. This is an important and practical question to discuss directly with your oncologist and hospital.

Q: What tests determine whether I'm a candidate for these treatments?

Specific molecular or genetic testing of the tumour tissue (sometimes called biomarker or mutation testing) is usually required to determine eligibility — your oncologist will advise if this applies to your specific cancer type.

Q: What are common side effects of these newer treatments?

Side effects differ by specific drug, but can include skin reactions, fatigue, and in the case of immunotherapy, immune-related reactions affecting various organs, since the treatment works by activating the immune system more broadly. Your oncology team will explain what to watch for with your specific treatment.