# What is targeted therapy in cancer treatment?

Source: https://oncologyistanbul.com/answers/what-is-targeted-therapy-in-cancer
Last updated: 2026-07-12

According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets proteins that control how cancer cells grow, divide, and spread. NCI explains that most types of targeted therapy help treat cancer by interfering with specific proteins that help tumors grow and spread throughout the body. NCI describes this approach as the foundation of precision medicine, because researchers design the treatments based on the DNA changes and proteins that drive cancer. NCI notes that this is different from chemotherapy, which often kills all cells that grow and divide quickly. In short, targeted therapy is intended to act on specific molecular features involved in cancer growth rather than broadly affecting all rapidly dividing cells. This is general information, not personal medical advice; discuss your individual situation with a qualified clinician.

## Verify at
- [Targeted Therapy to Treat Cancer](https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/targeted-therapies) — National Cancer Institute (NCI) (checked 2026-07-12)

Related: [Targeted therapy, in depth](https://oncologyistanbul.com/treatments/targeted-therapy)