Cancer is a group of diseases that is caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. It is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and its incidence is increasing every year. Cancer can be treated in many ways, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and synthetic treatments.
Synthetic treatments for cancer refer to the use of drugs that are designed to target specific molecules or pathways that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells. These drugs are usually designed to be more selective and less toxic than traditional chemotherapy drugs, which can damage healthy cells as well as cancer cells.
Here are some of the synthetic treatments for cancer that are commonly used by cancer specialists in Kolkata:
- Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy drugs are designed to block the specific molecules or pathways that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells. These drugs can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Some examples of targeted therapy drugs include imatinib (Gleevec) for chronic myeloid leukemia and trastuzumab (Herceptin) for HER2-positive breast cancer.
- Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapy drugs work by boosting the immune system’s ability to recognize and attack cancer cells. These drugs can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Some examples of immunotherapy drugs include pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer and nivolumab (Opdivo) for melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.
- Hormone therapy: Hormone therapy is a type of treatment that is used to block the hormones that are involved in the growth and survival of certain types of cancer cells, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer. Hormone therapy drugs can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Some examples of hormone therapy drugs include tamoxifen (Nolvadex) for breast cancer and leuprolide (Lupron) for prostate cancer.
- PARP inhibitors: PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy drug that is used to treat certain types of ovarian and breast cancers. PARP inhibitors work by blocking the enzyme PARP, which is involved in repairing damaged DNA in cancer cells. By blocking PARP, these drugs can cause cancer cells to die.
- Angiogenesis inhibitors: Angiogenesis inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy drug that is used to treat certain types of cancers, such as kidney cancer and colorectal cancer. Angiogenesis inhibitors work by blocking the growth of blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to cancer cells. By blocking angiogenesis, these drugs can starve cancer cells of the nutrients they need to grow and survive.
In conclusion, synthetic treatments for cancer have revolutionized the way cancer is treated. These drugs are designed to target specific molecules or pathways that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells, making them more selective and less toxic than traditional chemotherapy drugs. Cancer specialists in Kolkata use a variety of synthetic treatments to treat cancer, including targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, PARP inhibitors, and angiogenesis inhibitors. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, it is important to talk to a cancer specialist about the treatment options that are available.