Target Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Over the past decade, cancer therapy has changed drastically by the introduction of the tar‐ get therapies, which focus on unique molecules present in tumors or protein whose expres‐ sion or function is enriched within the neoplastic tissue; the so called molecular targets. In this context, target therapies may include monoclonal antibodies, drugs or small inhibitors capable of inhibiting specific molecules, such as kinases. The major targets in cancer therapy are pathways directing cell growth, proliferation and survival, as well as, those interfering on tumors microenvironmental aspects, such as angiogenesis. On the other hand, an emerg‐ ing field on target therapy is the use of epigenetic drugs, which aim the restoration of the normal epigenetic landscape in cancer cells by targeting the epigenetic machinery of cells. Despite some major side effects associated to some target drugs, these therapies are well tol‐ erated by patients. Moreover, it bears the possibility of developing personal therapies to each individual patient, which is considered the optimum choice in oncology.