Targeted Therapy for — Adolescents and Young Adults

In adolescents and young adults, targeted therapy is most commonly used for leukaemia — particularly chronic myeloid leukaemia and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia — certain lymphomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, some sarcomas, and cancers that carry specific mutations such as BRAF or ALK regardless of where they started. Thyroid cancer in young people is also commonly managed with targeted agents. Your oncologist will tell you whether your specific cancer type and mutation profile make targeted therapy part of your plan.

Sometimes, yes. Young adults can have higher rates of drug clearance for some agents, meaning a standard dose may reach lower blood levels than intended. Dosing in this age group is not always well-studied because most clinical trials enrolled older adults. Your oncologist should review guidance specific to your drug and check your weight, kidney function, and liver function before the dose is set. Ask directly how your dose was calculated and whether it has been adjusted for your age.

Some targeted therapies carry a risk to fertility, and that risk depends on the specific drug and the duration of treatment. The risk is not the same for all agents. What is consistent is that fertility preservation options — sperm banking for men, egg or embryo freezing for women — must be explored before treatment starts, because many cannot be arranged once you are on therapy. Ask for a referral to a fertility specialist at the same time as you receive your oncology plan, not as an afterthought. CION can advise on referral if needed.

Several targeted agents — particularly those used in leukaemia and some solid tumours — can affect heart rhythm, pumping function, or blood pressure over time. The monitoring your team arranges will depend on which drug you are on. A baseline ECG and sometimes an echocardiogram are done before starting, with repeat checks at intervals during treatment. If you notice palpitations, unusual breathlessness, or swelling in your legs during treatment, tell your team the same day rather than waiting for a scheduled check.

The effects that matter most for young adults over the long term include heart function, bone density, and hormone levels — particularly thyroid and, with some drugs, adrenal function. Some agents can affect liver function in ways that resolve after treatment but need periodic checking for a time. Your follow-up plan should state which of these applies to your specific drug and how often each should be checked. If you are discharged from oncology follow-up, ask for a survivorship summary that lists what monitoring you still need and which doctor will order it.

Many young adults do continue studying or working during targeted therapy, particularly when side effects are well-controlled. Most targeted therapies are taken as an oral tablet at home rather than as an infusion, which removes the need for frequent hospital visits. Fatigue, nausea, and skin reactions are common and can affect concentration on some days. Telling your team what your schedule looks like allows them to time dose adjustments or supportive medicines around your commitments. Your oncology team can provide medical documentation if you need accommodations from your institution or employer.

Yes. Some agents have not been studied in patients under 18 or under 25, and their safety in growing bodies — including effects on bone growth and hormonal development — is not fully established. When a targeted therapy is being considered for someone under 18, paediatric oncology guidelines from NCCN and ESMO apply, and a paediatric oncologist's input is standard. For adults in the 18–25 range, the evidence base is thinner than for patients over 40, which is why dosing review and closer monitoring are important.

Yes. Targeted therapy at CION is administered as day care across the network of centres in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. CION does not supply or stock individual drugs — prescriptions are filled through pharmacies — but the clinical team manages dosing review, monitoring schedules, and side effect assessment. CION does not provide CAR-T or cell therapy; patients for whom that treatment is being considered would be referred to a centre that offers it. If you want to discuss whether targeted therapy is right for your situation, CION's team can review your reports and biomarker results.