Targeted therapy of a cancer patient is multiprofessional collaboration
Ristimäki, A.; Kytölä, S.; Haglund, C.; Bono, P.
Duodecim; Laaketieteellinen Aikakauskirja 129(10): 1071-1079
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-7183 PMID: 23767137 Document Number: 665807
Cancer diseases are treated with targeted drugs utilizing several distinct mechanisms of action. The decision about targeted therapy will result from multiprofessional collaboration based on a representative biopsy, precise morphological diagnosis, elucidation of the extent of the disease and reliable methods of molecular analysis. Changes at the molecular level are determined by immunohistochemical stainings indicating the expression of proteins and by cytogenetic and molecular genetic tests. When successful, the clinical decision provides the cancer patient with maximally effective therapy and guarantees that the patient will not be needlessly exposed to ineffective treatment involving side effects.