Kastine Kemunto

Kenya

Evaluating Advances in Cancer Therapeutics

Kastine Kemunto 1

1. Moi University, School of Medicine

Abstract

Background

Cancer remains one of the most significant global public health challenges, accounting for millions of deaths annually and posing a substantial burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Traditional treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery have contributed to major improvements in survival, yet these approaches often come with limitations, including significant toxicity, limited specificity, and the development of resistance. Advances in biomedical research over the past two decades have led to the emergence of new therapeutic strategies designed to address these shortcomings. These innovations, particularly; targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and personalized medicine represent a shift from generalized treatment approaches to highly specific interventions that aim to improve patient outcomes while minimizing adverse effects. Understanding the progress, effectiveness, and limitations of these modern therapeutic options is essential for both clinicians and researchers seeking to improve cancer care. This study evaluates these advances to determine how they compare to traditional treatment modalities and their impact on the future of oncology.

Methods

This study used a literature review approach to evaluate recent advancements in cancer therapeutics. Peer-reviewed articles, clinical trial reports, and reviews published within the last decade were gathered from medical databases such as PubMed and ScienceDirect. Search terms included targeted therapy, immunotherapy, precision medicine, cancer treatment, and genomic profiling. Sources were selected based on relevance, reliability, and their contribution to understanding modern cancer treatment strategies. The review focused on three key areas: targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and personalized medicine. Each was assessed according to its mechanism of action, clinical effectiveness, side-effect profile, and advantages over traditional treatment methods.

Results

1. Targeted Therapy:
Targeted drugs such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies provide greater precision and fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. They have improved survival in cancers like breast cancer, lung cancer, and leukemia, though issues such as drug resistance and high costs persist.

2. Immunotherapy:
Immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapy have transformed treatment for cancers such as melanoma, lung cancer, and certain blood cancers. These therapies enhance the body’s immune response and have led to better long-term survival. However, they can cause immune-related side effects and are not universally effective.

3. Personalized Medicine:
Genomic profiling allows treatments to be tailored to the patient’s specific tumor characteristics, improving accuracy and reducing ineffective therapies. Despite its promise, limited access and high costs remain barriers in many regions.

Conclusions

Advances in cancer therapeutics have significantly improved the precision, effectiveness, and overall outcomes of cancer treatment. Targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and personalized medicine represent a shift from generalized treatment strategies to more individualized and scientifically informed approaches. Although these modern therapies show great promise, challenges such as treatment resistance, high costs, and limited accessibility continue to affect their widespread use. Ongoing research, improved healthcare investment, and global efforts to make these treatments more affordable are essential to ensure that patients benefit from these innovations. Overall, recent advancements offer hope for more effective and less toxic cancer treatments in the future.