Target therapy of kidney cancer: what is its implementation

Targeted therapy of kidney cancer is one of the newest methods of treating malignant tumors, which takes as a basis the principles of targeted influence on the basic molecular mechanisms that underlie pathology.

The invention of a completely new method of therapy in oncology was realized through a variety of theoretical studies that were implemented in the seventies of the twentieth century.

In 1971, scientist Volkman spoke about the phenomenon of oncogenesis in oncology. Tumor during growth requires the formation of its network of vessels. When it reaches a size of 2 mm in diameter, it can not form without the formation of new vessels. In this regard, from a non-dangerous set of cells for the human body, the tumor begins to turn into a malignant cellular system that has the ability to spread metastases. Due to the appearance of new vessels, an increase in the number of malignant cells carries an exponential nature, causing an accelerated increase in the tumor.

This is important!

In addition, in the seventies, the mechanism for the regulation of proliferation by cells was first described. It consists in the fact that the increase in neoplasm occurs after the development of a mutation in some genes that participate in the multiplication of cells.

It turns out that completely new targets for the invention of antitumor drugs have been developed. These drugs are called targeted.

Worldwide, doctors now record an increase in the incidence of kidney damage by malignant tumors. Such statistics are directly related to the general increase in the oncology of people, as well as to the improvement of diagnostic processes that help to establish the disease even in the early stages. Until recently, a person with a diagnosis of metastatic kidney cancer was doomed - after all, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy do not bring any results with kidney cancer. In the last decade, much has changed, especially in the approach to the implementation of drug therapy. Patients have the opportunity to prolong life and improve their well-being thanks to new medicines that are targeted.

The main characteristics of the treatment

Target drugs in kidney cancer affect the tumor a little differently compared to the usual methods. It provokes the death of malignant cells and almost does not affect healthy tissues, so they do not cause serious negative consequences.

In oncology, this treatment is based on the study and proper understanding of the mechanisms of the molecular structure of the tumor, as well as on the invention of medicaments that directly affect the specific molecules responsible for the growth and progression of tumor cells.

Target medicines can be used alone or in combination with traditional treatment of kidney cancer - with radiotherapy or with chemotherapy. The newest progressive treatment is often used as a means of preventing relapse prevention.

Targeted treatment with inhibitors of the antigenesis

For the full growth of the tumor, new vessels must develop in it, oxygen and nutrients will flow to the tissues of the cancer cells. Tumor cells are capable of producing a variety of growth factors that will stimulate the appearance of new vessels. This process is called antigenogenesis, and the effect of inhibitors of antigenogenesis significantly slows the malignant process.

This is important! The mechanisms of influence of targeted medicines differ from the influence of chemotherapeutic agents, since the former violate the growth of the tumor at the level of molecules and minimally affect the healthy tissue.

The effect of treatment and its toxic effects

Target therapy can prevent the proliferation and spread of tumor cells, so its toxic effect on healthy cells in the human body is much less than cytotoxic therapy.

The frequency of serious adverse effects remains relatively low. There is a neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, a violation of digestive functions - indigestion and an increase in the concentration of amylase. Damage to the skin epithelium will manifest itself in the form of palmar-plantar syndrome in 5% of cases. In some cases, hypertension develops, and most complications are easily stopped by reducing the dosage of medications.

Duration of treatment and dosages used:

The standard prescribed dose is 50 mg per day for four weeks. Then there is a two-week break. With the development of serious side effects, the dosage is reduced to 37,% or to 25 mg, and subsequent dose reduction does not make sense.

Possibilities of combination with other types of treatment

According to the action of cytostatic agents, and there is no sensitivity to them in malignant tumor cells, their simultaneous use with targeted drugs will not yield results.

In another way, one can talk about combining target funds with a similar, but slightly different, mechanism of impact. Simultaneous impact of funds on various targets in the body contributes to improving the effectiveness of treatment in general.

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