Targeted therapies are specific class of drugs that attack cancer cells by interfering with certain molecules or components (such as proteins or enzymes) that the cancer cells need to grow. These drugs can target cancer cells because they aim for cells with a specific genetic mutation or unique characteristic that is found only in the cancer cells and not in healthy ones. Your medical oncologist may recommend one of these targeted therapies for your uterine cancer if your disease is advanced, recurrent (came back after remission) or other treatments have failed.
- Bevacizumab. This drug blocks a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that helps cancer cells form new blood vessels to feed the tumor.
- Trastuzumab. This drug targets cancer cells that have excess amounts of HER2, another protein that helps cancer cells grow rapidly. If your pathology report finds that your cancer cells have too much HER2, trastuzumab may be added to your chemotherapy regimen.