Targeted therapy for colorectal cancer

Targeted therapy for colorectal cancer has changed how doctors treat this disease. Instead of using only chemotherapy, doctors now use medicines that aim at specific molecules involved in cancer growth. These targeted drugs work differently from chemotherapy by focusing only on cancer cells and leaving healthy cells mostly unharmed.

Key Mechanisms in Targeted Therapy

The FDA approves many targeted therapies to treat colorectal cancer. They give hope, especially for advanced colorectal cancer. As researchers study clinical trials, more treatments are becoming available. In this article, we’ll explain how targeted therapy works, the important drugs, and why keywords like blood vessel, microsatellite instability (MSI), BRAF mutations, and more matter in treatment. Additionally, terms such as signal transducer and drug administration FDA approved targeted therapies,

human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and resistance to anti-EGFR therapy play an essential role in understanding and advancing treatment options.

How Targeted Therapy Works

Blood Vessel and Tumor Growth

Cancer needs nutrients to grow. It gets these nutrients by making new blood vessels through a process called angiogenesis. Drugs that stop blood vessel growth can starve the tumor. One major target for this is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). By blocking VEGF, doctors can prevent tumors from growing bigger. Some drugs block VEGF directly or block the VEGF receptor on cells.

Endothelial Growth Factor VEGF

The endothelial growth factor VEGF is essential for blood vessel growth. Targeted drugs that attack VEGF prevent new vessels from forming. Without new blood vessels, tumors cannot get enough oxygen and nutrients. That slows down or even stops their growth.

Important Genes in Targeted Therapy

Microsatellite Instability (MSI)

Some colorectal cancers have something called microsatellite instability (MSI). This happens when the cells’ DNA repair system is broken. Tumors with MSI often respond better to immune-based therapies. Doctors test for MSI to find the best treatment plan.

BRAF Mutations

Another important genetic change in colorectal cancer is BRAF mutations. Patients with these mutations often have a poorer outlook. Special drugs now exist to target these mutations. Knowing if a cancer has a BRAF mutation can help choose better treatments.

KRAS Mutated

The KRAS mutated gene is also crucial. If colorectal cancer has a KRAS mutation, certain treatments may not work. That’s why doctors always test for KRAS before starting anti-EGFR therapy.

Why Choose Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer?

Targeted therapy offers important advantages compared to traditional treatments. Here are three key reasons to choose it:

Focused Attack on Cancer Cells

Targeted therapy is designed to attack only cancer cells, not healthy ones. It blocks specific proteins or genes like VEGF, EGFR, or BRAF mutations that help cancer grow. This focused action helps reduce side effects compared to treatments like chemotherapy.

Personalized Treatment Plans

Many targeted drugs are chosen based on the patient’s specific cancer features, such as KRAS mutated status or microsatellite instability (MSI). This makes treatment more personal and more effective. It ensures that patients get the therapies most likely to work for their cancer type.

New Hope When Other Treatments Fail

For patients with chemotherapy refractory metastatic colorectal cancer, targeted therapy offers new hope. Medicines that target specific cancer markers or treatments using the immune system provide options even after standard treatments stop working.

Types of Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer

There are different types of targeted therapy used in advanced colorectal cancer. Some focus on blood vessels, others on proteins or genes inside cancer cells. Here are the major types:

Anti-VEGF Therapy

Anti-VEGF therapy blocks vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that helps form new blood vessels. Tumors need these blood vessels to grow and spread. By stopping VEGF, tumors are starved of oxygen and nutrients, slowing their growth.

Targeted drugs approved by the FDA focus on VEGF to treat advanced colorectal cancer. This therapy can help patients live longer and improve symptoms. However, side effects like high blood pressure, bleeding, and slower wound healing can happen because VEGF affects normal tissues too.

Clinical trials are testing new ways to improve anti-VEGF therapy, including combining it with other treatments. Blocking blood supply is a strong strategy that directly weakens the tumor without damaging the whole body.

Anti-EGFR Therapy

Anti-EGFR therapy targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on cancer cells. EGFR helps cancer cells grow quickly. Blocking it slows tumor growth and sometimes shrinks tumors.

Studies compare different approaches for patients with chemotherapy refractory metastatic colorectal cancer to find the best choice. Testing is important because patients with a KRAS mutated gene often don’t benefit from this therapy.

Skin rash is a common side effect because EGFR also exists in healthy skin cells. Despite this, anti-EGFR therapy offers new hope for patients whose cancers no longer respond to chemotherapy.

Targeting Gene Mutations

Some targeted therapies focus on specific gene mutations like BRAF mutations and KRAS mutated cancers. These gene changes cause cells to grow abnormally.

Special therapies block the bad signals caused by mutations, slowing cancer growth. Patients are tested for these mutations to decide which targeted drugs are best.

New treatments are also being developed through clinical trials. Targeting gene mutations gives patients more options, especially when standard treatments stop working. It is an important step toward personalized cancer care.

Immune System Help

Some targeted therapies work by helping the immune system fight cancer. Normally, cancer cells hide from the immune system. New therapies use processes like antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity to reveal cancer cells and help immune cells kill them.

This type of therapy works especially well for cancers with microsatellite instability (MSI), where tumors have many mutations. By boosting the immune system, these therapies offer a new way to attack cancer without harming normal cells.

Researchers are exploring better ways to combine immune therapy with targeted drugs to treat advanced colorectal cancer more effectively.

Hope for the Future

Clinical Trials

Today, numerous clinical trials are underway to discover more effective treatments for colorectal cancer. These trials are essential for testing innovative therapies, such as targeted drugs, combination treatments, and immunotherapies. By participating in clinical trials, patients gain access to the latest treatments that may not yet be available outside of research settings. This provides hope for better outcomes and advanced treatment options for those battling colorectal cancer.

Cancer Includes Many Targets

Modern cancer therapies focus on multiple targets within the body to fight cancer more effectively. These targets include factors like blood vessel growth, gene mutations such as KRAS and BRAF, and immune checkpoints. By addressing these diverse aspects of cancer, doctors can increase the likelihood of successfully managing the disease. The ability to target various mechanisms of cancer gives physicians a broader toolkit to fight cancer on multiple fronts, improving the chances of controlling its progression.

Targeted Drugs for Advanced Colorectal Cancer

For patients with advanced colorectal cancer, targeted therapies have become a crucial part of treatment. These therapies focus directly on cancer cells, sparing much of the healthy tissue and reducing side effects compared to traditional treatments. Doctors use them to interrupt specific signals that tumors need to grow and spread.

Without these targeted treatments, patients facing advanced or metastatic disease would have far fewer options and a much more challenging outlook. Thanks to ongoing advancements, many patients now live longer and enjoy a better quality of life even after a diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer. Researchers continue to refine these therapies, finding new ways to make treatment even more effective and to offer hope to more people battling this disease.

Combining Therapies for Better Results

The combination of different treatment approaches, such as combining targeted therapies with chemotherapy or immunotherapy, is an emerging strategy in colorectal cancer treatment. This approach allows doctors to attack cancer cells from multiple angles, making it more challenging for tumors to adapt and survive. By pairing therapies, the body can leverage different mechanisms to fight cancer, enhancing the overall effectiveness of treatment and offering patients a better chance for long-term survival.

Doctors carefully select combinations based on the cancer’s specific genetic profile and behavior. They monitor the patient’s response closely to adjust treatment plans as needed. Ongoing research continues to discover new pairings that improve outcomes and help more patients live longer, healthier lives.

Resistance and Comparative Treatments

Resistance to Therapy

Targeted therapies do not always work forever. Over time, some cancers find ways to grow despite treatment. New mutations in important genes like KRAS or other biological changes inside the tumor often cause this resistance. When this happens, the cancer stops responding the way it did at first. Researchers continue to explore new strategies, including new types of targeted treatments and combination therapies, to stay ahead of these changes and offer better options to patients.

Comparative Studies

Finding the best targeted therapy for each patient plays a critical role in treatment success. Many studies compare different therapies in people whose metastatic colorectal cancer no longer responds to chemotherapy. Each targeted treatment offers different strengths depending on the patient’s genetic profile and how the cancer behaves. Doctors use these comparisons to guide decisions and improve each patient’s chance of a better outcome by choosing the most effective available option.

Combination Approaches

Combining two or more targeted treatments gives doctors another way to overcome resistance. Some therapies work better when used together because they attack the cancer from different angles. Research teams continue to test different combinations to find the right balance between stronger results and manageable side effects. This strategy helps extend the benefits of targeted therapy for more patients.

Personalized Treatment Plans

Personalized treatment plans allow doctors to match each patient with the most effective therapy. They rely on detailed genetic testing and a deep understanding of the tumor’s behavior. By studying each patient’s unique cancer profile, doctors can recommend therapies that have a better chance of success. This approach leads to more targeted care, fewer side effects, and better results over time.

Conclusion

Targeted therapy for colorectal cancer represents a huge step forward in cancer treatment. By focusing on genes like KRAS mutated or BRAF mutations, blocking the vascular endothelial growth factor, and boosting the immune system, doctors offer hope to patients who once had few options. New therapies are reshaping the landscape and providing opportunities for better outcomes.

Find Expert Targeted Therapy for Colorectal Cancer at Onco Life Centre

If you or a loved one is considering targeted therapy for advanced colorectal cancer, Onco Life Centre in Kuala Lumpur is ready to support you. Our experienced team offers personalized cancer care, using the latest targeted therapies and diagnostic tools to create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. We are committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care to help you achieve the best possible outcome.

📞 Contact Us:

Phone: +60 12-399 3260

Office: +60 3 2242 3260

Email: info@oncolifecentre.com

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On appointment day, bring along all the medical reports and your identity documents, ie. identity card or passport. Our team will help you organize the medical reports for our oncologist to review. Our oncologist will discuss the treatment plan with you. Tele-consult is available for overseas patients.

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Dr. Christina Ng Van Tze

Consultant Medical Oncologist
Medical Director
MBBS (Melb) FRACP (Aus)

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MBBCH, BAO (IRE) MRCP (UK)

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Onco Life Centre Wins 2025 Best Oncology Clinic in Malaysia

We are proud to share that Onco Life Centre has been named the Oncology Clinic and Treatment Centre of the Year in Malaysia at the GlobalHealth Asia-Pacific Awards 2025, held in Bangkok.

This prestigious recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering personalized, compassionate, and cutting-edge cancer care to our patients. The award reflects not just our clinical excellence, but our dedication to safety, community outreach, and innovation in oncology services.

The GlobalHealth Asia-Pacific Awards celebrate leading healthcare institutions across the region. Winners are chosen based on a comprehensive evaluation of criteria such as:

Excellence and Innovation: Transforming healthcare delivery and patient outcomes through progressive medical practices.
Patient Safety: Upholding the highest standards to ensure safe, comfortable, and effective treatment environments.
Community Involvement: Actively engaging in public awareness, screening programs, and care for underprivileged communities.
Technology Adoption: Integrating advanced diagnostics, therapies, and digital tools to enhance every aspect of care.
Impact and Measurable Results: Demonstrating tangible improvements in cancer detection, treatment success, and patient well-being.
Adaptability and Preparedness: Being resilient and forward-thinking in the face of global health challenges.
Leadership and Vision: Cultivating a culture that prioritizes empathy, innovation, and ongoing education.

This award inspires us to continue raising the bar in oncology care—not only through medical advancements but by remaining deeply rooted in our advocacy mission: to serve, educate, and empower every cancer patient, especially those most in need.

We dedicate this achievement to our patients, survivors, caregivers, and the entire Onco Life Centre community. Your courage fuels our purpose. Together, we will continue the fight—because every life matters.