What Is Targeted Therapy for Kidney Cancer?
Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that works by blocking specific molecules involved in the growth and spread of kidney cancer cells. Unlike chemotherapy, which kills all rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapy is designed to interfere with cancer-specific pathways, making it more focused and often better tolerated.
It is commonly used for advanced or metastatic kidney cancer, especially when surgery alone is not enough.
How Does It Work?
Most targeted therapies for kidney cancer block two key processes:
- Angiogenesis – the formation of new blood vessels that feed tumors
- Cell signaling – internal communication within cancer cells that promotes growth and survival
By blocking these processes, targeted drugs help starve tumors, slow their growth, and sometimes shrink them.
Common Targeted Drugs
- Cabozantinib (Cabometyx)
- Axitinib (Inlyta)
- Lenvatinib (Lenvima)
- Sunitinib (Sutent)
- Pazopanib (Votrient)
- These drugs are usually taken as oral tablets, making them convenient for many patients.
When Is Targeted Therapy Used?
- As a first-line treatment, often in combination with immunotherapy
- After immunotherapy has been tried and the cancer progresses
- When surgery is not an option due to widespread disease
Doctors choose the drug based on your overall health, past treatments, and how your cancer behaves.
Side Effects
Targeted therapies can still cause side effects, including:
- High blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Mouth sores
- Hand-foot skin reactions (pain, swelling, redness)
Doctors monitor these side effects closely and may adjust the dose as needed.
Targeted therapy has become an essential tool in managing kidney cancer and continues to improve survival in many patients with advanced disease.
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