Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is another effective treatment to treat stomach cancer. The targeted therapy attacks the gene mutation which causes frequent replication. This method of intervention is more precise than chemotherapy. The doctor performs various test for the determination of gene mutations, and protein components that causes frequent replication.
Targeted therapy is of two types:
- Angiogenesis inhibitor therapy:
The tumors and the cancerous cells replicate quickly and they need increased blood supply to feed the growing number of cells. The term angiogenesis mean the formation of new blood vessels. So, in order to control the tumor growth, the food supply towards the cancerous cells is blocked by inhibiting growth of new blood vessels. This stops the tumor from growing and invading other organs.
- HER2 therapy:
The cancer cells produce too much protein, which further stimulates their replication. Anti-HER2 therapies are used to stop cancer cells from producing these proteins.
Targeted therapy does have certain side effects which include:
- Stomachaches
- High blood pressure
- Diarrhea
References
- https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/stomach-cancer/latest-research
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/stomach-cancer/about/what-is-stomach-cancer.html
- https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/stomach-cancer/symptoms
- https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/stomach-cancer/causes-risks
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/stomach-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/how-diagnosed.html#:~:text=During%20a%20biopsy%2C%20the%20doctor,the%20endoscope%20to%20biopsy%20them.
- https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/stomach-cancer/stages
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/stomach-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html
- https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/stomach-cancer/types-treatment