Smart Medicines (Target-Oriented Therapy)
Today, targeted therapy models with fewer side effects than classical treatment methods of lung cancer are up-to-date. Smart drugs are one of them.
Various molecular-level targeted cancer treatment methods are being developed in current studies to treat advanced lung cancer.
In the classical treatment model, we prefer a standard treatment approach according to the histopathological type of cancer. When the selected treatment method is incompatible with the determined cancer genetic structure, the patient can face side effects that can affect cancerous cells. The cancer spreads to the body via blood or lymph during the time before treatment, causing death before the expected time. In targeted therapy methods, personalized medicine treats according to the gene mutations detected by examining the cancer cell.
Smart drug use in lung cancer
While the drugs of routine chemotherapy kill tumor cells, they also damage other cells of our body. Side effects are common, for example, nausea, vomiting, and hair loss. This type of treatment is intravenous.
But smart drugs or targeted drugs are only intended to kill tumor cells and are taken orally.
The smart drugs available today are effective only in a specific type of cancer.
They are generally effective in a type of lung cancer called adenocarcinoma. Drug effectivity is predicted by performing genetic studies from the biopsy or surgical specimen.
Analyzed genetic markers are as follows:
- EGFR
- ALK
- ROS.1
- C-MET
- B-RAF
Approximately 7-10% of patients with lung adenocarcinoma benefit from this treatment. The applicability rate of the smart drug can reach up to 30%, especially in non-smokers and female patients.
Immunotherapy
It is one of the most critical options in advanced stage (Stages 3B and 4) lung cancers in recent years. It is a treatment that affects the patient's immune system. It acts by re-establishing the healthy functioning of the damaged immune system. With this method, patients can survive longer.
It benefits stage 3 patients who cannot undergo surgery after chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.
In stage 4 patients, it can be used in combination with chemotherapy in the 1st line therapy or alone as a 2nd line therapy.
While the frequency of the side effect rate related to this treatment is low, some side effects can be very severe.
One of the most critical issues about immunotherapy is that it is not beneficial for every patient.
In our country, this treatment method is not covered within the scope of health insurance.
Note: As a result, we evaluate each patient's treatment individually, discuss them in the multidisciplinary oncology council, and decide accordingly.