Medical Oncologist
How targeted therapy works
What Is Targeted Therapy — for Cancer?
Targeted therapy is a class of cancer treatment that blocks specific molecules in your tumour — not all dividing cells. It works differently from chemotherapy, and whether it is right for you depends on laboratory testing of your tumour tissue.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed August 2026
- Not the same as chemotherapy — Targeted therapy blocks specific molecules in cancer cells. Chemotherapy affects all rapidly dividing cells in the body.
- Eligibility depends on your tumour's biology — Biomarker testing on your biopsy sample decides whether a targeted drug is likely to help you — not cancer type alone.
- Most targeted drugs are day care or oral — Many are given as infusions in day care. Some are taken as tablets at home.
- Ineligible does not mean out of options — If targeted therapy does not fit your profile, your oncologist will recommend the treatment most supported by evidence for your situation.
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Targeted therapy uses drugs designed to interfere with specific molecules — called targets — that help cancer cells grow, divide, and spread. Unlike chemotherapy, which affects all rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapy is matched to the molecular profile of your tumour. Biomarker testing of your tumour tissue decides whether a targeted drug may help you.
How is targeted therapy different from chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy attacks cells that divide rapidly. It cannot tell a cancer cell from a healthy one, which is why it can cause hair loss, nausea, and low blood counts.
Targeted therapy works differently. It is designed to block a specific protein, gene, or pathway that your tumour depends on to survive. The drug only affects cells that carry that specific target.
This narrower aim does not mean fewer side effects — targeted drugs carry their own risks, which differ by drug and by target. But the mechanism is fundamentally different, and the two are sometimes used together.
Immunotherapy is a third category, also distinct: it removes the brakes on your own immune system rather than attacking the tumour directly. The three approaches are sometimes confused because they are all alternatives to surgery and radiation, but they are not interchangeable.
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MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
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Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
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Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
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Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
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Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
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Dr. Mohammed Imran
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
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Who can have targeted therapy, and what decides it?
Eligibility is decided by biomarker testing — a laboratory analysis of your tumour tissue, usually from the biopsy you have already had. The test looks for the specific molecular change the drug is designed to block.
Having a cancer type that is sometimes treated with targeted therapy is not enough. The mutation or protein change must actually be present in your tumour. A patient with lung cancer whose tumour carries an EGFR mutation may be eligible; a patient with the same cancer type whose tumour does not carry that mutation is not.
NCCN and ESMO guidelines specify that treatment decisions should be based on molecular profiling results rather than cancer type alone. Results typically take one to two weeks.
If your biopsy sample is too small or too degraded for testing, a repeat biopsy or a liquid biopsy — a blood test that looks for tumour DNA — may be used instead. Your oncologist will advise which is appropriate for your situation.
What should you ask your oncologist about targeted therapy?
- Has biomarker testing been done on my tumour?Ask for the name of the test and what it showed.
- Which specific target does this drug block?Understanding this helps you make sense of the side effects and monitoring plan.
- How will we know if it is working?Ask how often scans will be done and what a response looks like on imaging.
- Which side effects need a same-day call?Every targeted drug has a different profile. Know which symptoms cannot wait for your next appointment.
- Is this a tablet, infusion, or both?Some targeted therapies are taken at home. Ask about storage and what to do if you miss a dose.
- What happens if it stops working?Ask whether repeat testing would be done and what the next options are.
- Are there drug interactions I should know about?Tell your team everything you are taking, including supplements and Ayurvedic or herbal medicines.
Explore 119 more Targeted Therapy Basics, Testing & Your Cancer Type topics
Foundations & How Targeted Therapy Works
- Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Targeted Therapy: Treatment Before or After Surgery
- Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs): The Smart Bombs of Cancer Treatment
- Biosimilars and Generic Targeted Therapy Drugs: What They Are
- Can Targeted Therapy Be Combined with Chemotherapy or Radiation?
- Can Targeted Therapy Cure Cancer? An Honest Answer
- First-Line, Second-Line and Beyond: How Treatment Lines Work
- How Doctors Decide Between Chemo, Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy
- How Does Targeted Therapy Actually Work? Explained Without Jargon
- How Long Does Targeted Therapy Take to Start Working?
- Is Targeted Therapy Painful? What the Treatment Actually Feels Like
- Is Targeted Therapy a Type of Chemotherapy? Clearing Up the Confusion
- Oral Tablets vs IV Infusion Targeted Therapy: What's the Difference?
- Precision Oncology vs Personalised Medicine: Are They the Same Thing?
- Targeted Therapy Success Rates: What the Numbers Really Mean
- Targeted Therapy for Stage 4 Cancer: What You Can Realistically Expect
- Targeted Therapy vs Chemotherapy: 12 Differences That Actually Matter
- Targeted Therapy vs Immunotherapy: Which One Is Right for You?
- The 8 Main Types of Targeted Therapy Drugs (With Examples)
- What Do Cancer Drug Endings Like -nib, -mab and -tinib Mean?
- What Is Targeted Therapy for Cancer? A Complete Patient Guide
- Which Cancers Can Be Treated with Targeted Therapy? Full List
- Why Didn't My Doctor Recommend Targeted Therapy for Me?
Before You Start - Preparation & Baseline
- 25 Questions to Ask Your Oncologist Before Starting Targeted Therapy
- Before You Start Targeted Therapy: The Complete Preparation Checklist
- Dental Check-Up Before Cancer Treatment: Why It Matters
- Financial Planning Before Starting Long-Term Targeted Therapy
- How Long After Surgery Can You Start Targeted Therapy?
- How to Store Your Targeted Therapy Tablets Correctly
- Setting Up a Dosing Routine You Won't Forget
- Should Targeted Therapy Be Taken With Food or on an Empty Stomach?
- Vaccinations Before and During Cancer Treatment
- What to Expect in Your First Month on Targeted Therapy
- Which Baseline Tests Are Done Before Starting a TKI?
- Which of Your Existing Medicines Must Stop Before Targeted Therapy
- Why You Need an ECHO and ECG Before Certain Cancer Drugs
Biomarker & Molecular Testing
- Can Mutation Testing Be Done on an Old Biopsy Block or Slides?
- Cost of NGS and Mutation Testing in India: 2026 Price Guide
- Do I Need Genetic Testing Before Starting Targeted Therapy?
- Germline vs Somatic Testing: The Difference Nobody Explains Properly
- Getting a Second Opinion on Your Genomic Report
- How Long Do Mutation Test Results Take in India? Realistic Timelines
- How to Read Your Molecular Pathology Report, Line by Line
- IHC, FISH, PCR or NGS: Which Mutation Test Is Right for Your Cancer?
- Is Mutation Testing Worth It If I Can't Afford the Drug?
- Liquid Biopsy vs Tissue Biopsy: Which Test Do You Need?
- My Report Says a Mutation Is 'Actionable': What Does That Mean?
- No Mutation Found in My Report: What Are My Options Now?
- Should I Start Chemotherapy While Waiting for Mutation Results?
- Should You Repeat Molecular Testing After Your Cancer Progresses?
- Single-Gene Test or Full Panel? How to Choose Without Wasting Money
- What Are PD-L1, TMB and MSI, and Do They Affect Targeted Therapy?
- What Does 'Variant of Uncertain Significance' (VUS) Mean?
- What Happens If There Isn't Enough Tissue for Mutation Testing?
- What Is NGS (Next-Generation Sequencing) Testing in Cancer?
- What Is a Molecular Tumour Board and Why Should You Want One?
- Which Cancers Should Always Be Tested for Mutations? A Checklist
- ctDNA and MRD Testing: Tracking Cancer Through a Blood Test
Cancer-Type Specific Targeted Therapy
- CML Treatment with TKIs: Living a Normal Life Span
- Cancer of Unknown Primary: Can Molecular Testing Help?
- GIST Treatment: Why This Cancer Changed Targeted Therapy Forever
- Targeted Therapy for Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma)
- Targeted Therapy for Bladder and Urothelial Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Brain Tumours and Glioma
- Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer: HER2, HR+ and Triple Negative
- Targeted Therapy for CLL and Lymphoma
- Targeted Therapy for Cervical and Endometrial Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Childhood Cancers
- Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer: RAS, BRAF and HER2
- Targeted Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Kidney Cancer (RCC)
- Targeted Therapy for Liver Cancer (HCC)
- Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer: Every Mutation and Drug Explained
- Targeted Therapy for Melanoma: BRAF and MEK Inhibitors
- Targeted Therapy for Multiple Myeloma
- Targeted Therapy for Neuroendocrine Tumours
- Targeted Therapy for Ovarian Cancer: PARP Inhibitors and Beyond
- Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer: Limited but Real Options
- Targeted Therapy for Prostate Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Sarcoma
- Targeted Therapy for Stomach and Gastroesophageal Cancer
- Targeted Therapy for Thyroid Cancer
- Targeted Therapy in AML: Beyond Standard Chemotherapy
- Tumour-Agnostic Drugs: When the Mutation Matters More Than the Organ
Mutation & Target-Specific Pages
- ALK-Positive Lung Cancer: Drugs, Response and What Comes Next
- Antiangiogenic Drugs (VEGF Inhibitors): How Starving a Tumour Works
- BCR-ABL and the Philadelphia Chromosome in CML
- BRAF V600E Mutation: Targeted Therapy Across Multiple Cancers
- BRCA vs HRD Testing: Which One Determines PARP Inhibitor Eligibility?
- BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations in Cancer Treatment: PARP Inhibitors
- BTK Inhibitors in CLL and Lymphoma
- CD20, CD38 and Other Antibody Targets in Blood Cancers
- CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer
- Co-Mutations: When You Have Two Mutations at Once
- EGFR Exon 20 Insertion: Why It's Different and Harder to Treat
- EGFR Mutation in Lung Cancer: Complete Patient Guide
- ESR1 Mutation: Why Your Hormone Therapy Stopped Working
- FGFR Alterations in Bladder and Bile Duct Cancer
- FLT3 Mutation in AML: What It Means for Your Prognosis
- HER2 Mutation in Lung and Gastric Cancer
- HER2-Low Breast Cancer: A New Category That Changes Treatment
- HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: The Full Targeted Therapy Roadmap
- IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations in Glioma, AML and Bile Duct Cancer
- KIT and PDGFRA Mutations in GIST
- KRAS G12C Mutation: The Target That Was Undruggable for 40 Years
- KRAS Mutation but Not G12C: What Are My Options?
- MET Exon 14 Skipping and MET Amplification Explained
- MSI-High and Mismatch Repair Deficiency: Testing and Treatment
- NRG1, MET, RET and Other Rare Fusions: Where to Get Tested
- NTRK Fusion: One Drug for Many Different Cancers
- Osimertinib: What to Expect, Side Effects and How Long It Works
- PALB2, ATM and Other BRCA-Like Genes: Do They Get the Same Drugs?
- PIK3CA Mutation in Breast Cancer: Alpelisib and What to Expect
- PSMA and AR-Targeted Therapy in Prostate Cancer
- RET Fusion Cancer: Lung, Thyroid and Beyond
- ROS1-Positive Cancer: A Rare Mutation with Excellent Options
- TP53 Mutation: Why There's Still No Targeted Drug for It
- Understanding Variant Allele Frequency (VAF) in Your Report
- What If My Mutation Has No Approved Drug Yet?
- mTOR Inhibitors in Cancer: Everolimus and Temsirolimus
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is targeted therapy better than chemotherapy?
Neither is inherently better. They work differently, and which is appropriate depends on your cancer type, stage, and the molecular profile of your tumour. For cancers driven by a specific mutation, a targeted drug matched to that mutation is likely to be more effective and better tolerated than standard chemotherapy. For cancers without a targetable change, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or a combination may be the recommended approach. Your oncologist recommends based on your specific results, not a general preference.
What are the side effects of targeted therapy?
Side effects vary significantly by drug. Common ones include skin rash, diarrhoea, high blood pressure, fatigue, and changes in liver function tests. Some targeted drugs require heart monitoring as part of the treatment plan. Your oncologist will review the specific side effect profile for the drug you are prescribed before you start. Tell your team about any new symptom rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit — some side effects need prompt attention.
Can targeted therapy be taken as a tablet at home?
Many targeted therapies are oral — taken as tablets or capsules at home. This is more convenient than coming in for an infusion, but it also means the monitoring responsibility shifts partly to you. Take it at the same time each day, as prescribed. Do not stop or adjust the dose without speaking to your oncologist first. Ask your team what to do if you miss a dose or vomit shortly after taking one — the answer differs by drug.
How long does targeted therapy last?
There is no fixed duration. Most targeted therapies are continued for as long as they are working and tolerated. Treatment is reassessed with regular scans, and if the cancer is responding, the drug continues. When the cancer begins to grow again, repeat testing is often done to understand why, and the treatment plan is revised. Some patients continue on targeted therapy for years; others may need a change in treatment sooner. Your oncologist will set out the review schedule when you start.
Does targeted therapy aim to remove cancer completely?
Targeted therapy is intended to control cancer, shrink tumours, and extend the period without disease progression. In a proportion of patients with certain cancers, responses are deep and durable. Whether treatment can achieve complete and lasting remission in your situation depends on the cancer type, the specific mutation, the stage, and many individual factors. Ask your oncologist directly what the treatment is expected to achieve in your case — that is a reasonable and important question to put to them.
What happens when targeted therapy stops working?
Resistance is common over time. Cancer cells can develop new changes that make them less sensitive to the drug. When this happens, repeat biomarker testing — on a new biopsy or sometimes a liquid biopsy — can identify whether a different targeted drug or combination may help. NCCN and ESMO guidance includes established approaches for many cancers after first-line targeted therapy is no longer effective. Stopping working does not mean there are no further options.
How much does targeted therapy cost in India?
Costs vary considerably by drug, cancer type, and treatment duration, and any figure you read online is likely to be outdated. Some targeted drugs are available as generic versions in India, which significantly reduces cost. Government schemes in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, as well as some insurance policies, may cover a portion or all of the cost. Ask your oncologist or the hospital's financial counsellor for a current estimate specific to the drug being recommended for you.
Is targeted therapy available at CION?
Yes. Targeted therapy is administered at CION centres across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with infusions given as day care. Oral targeted therapies are prescribed for home use with regular monitoring built into the schedule. PET-CT and other response-assessment scans are coordinated with partner imaging centres. CION does not provide CAR-T or cell therapy; if that is being considered for you, your team will discuss referral to a centre that offers it.