Targeted therapy is a drug therapy that targets specific features of cancer cells to stop the cancer growing or spreading. These drugs circulate through the body, but work in a more focused way than chemotherapy and often have fewer side effects.
A range of new targeted therapy drugs are being developed to match the molecular profile of each person’s cancer cells. For brain tumours, researchers are studying how to target genes such as BRAF, NTRK and IDH. These advances will help make personalised treatments possible.
Immunotherapy and brain tumours
Immunotherapy is not currently a standard treatment option for primary brain tumours. This is in part because of the way the brain’s immune system works. New immunotherapy drugs are being tested in clinical trials.
These include treatments to help the immune system better recognise cancer cells (e.g. nivolumab, pembrolizumab), vaccines against cancer cells (e.g. PEP-CMV, DCVax), viruses to infect cancer cells (e.g. PVSRIPO, G47Δ), and treatments that change the patient’s own immune cells (e.g. CAR-T cell therapy).
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Video: What is targeted therapy?
Watch this short video to learn more about targeted therapy.
Podcast: Immunotherapy & Targeted Therapy
More resources
Prof Lindy Jeffree, Director of Neurosurgery, Alfred Health, VIC; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Prof Tamara Ownsworth, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Research Director, The Hopkins Centre, Griffith University, QLD; A/Prof Hao-Wen Sim, Medical Oncologist, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre and Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Megan Trevethan, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapy – Cancer and Lymphoedema Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD; Chris Twyford, Cancer Specialist Nurse, Canberra Health Services, Cancer and Ambulatory Support, ACT; Dr Adam Wells, Clinical Academic Consultant Neurosurgeon, The University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA.
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