HOW TARGETED THERAPY
WORKS
Targeted therapy drugs block specific molecular switches cancer cells have jammed permanently on. The mechanism determines both what the drug does to the cancer and what side effects to expect.
How Different Drug Classes Work
Understanding which mechanism your drug uses explains both what it does to cancer cells and what side effects to anticipate.
Signal Transduction Inhibitors
Interrupt the cascade of messages cancer cells pass between proteins to sustain growth. Cut the chain, and the instruction to divide never reaches its destination. EGFR, ALK, and BCR-ABL inhibitors all work this way.
Apoptosis Inducers
Push tumour cells toward their natural self-destruction pathway -- something cancer cells have found ways to suppress. These drugs reverse that suppression. Venetoclax in CLL is a key example.
Gene Expression Modulators
Interfere with proteins that control which genes activate inside cancer cells, changing what the cell does at a fundamental level. CDK inhibitors work through related mechanisms.
Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs)
Attach to cancer cell surface proteins and deliver a toxic payload directly inside. Surrounding tissue does not receive the same exposure. Trastuzumab deruxtecan delivers chemotherapy specifically to HER2-expressing cells.
Frequently Asked Questions
How CancerFax Helps
CancerFax is a specialist cancer access and patient-navigation platform. We help patients and families understand their options, organise medical records, coordinate hospital communication, and support cross-border treatment planning where appropriate.
We help collect and organise reports, scans, pathology, biomarker results, and treatment history for structured case review.
We communicate with hospitals or trial teams to assess whether a case may be suitable for further screening.
We support appointment coordination, document submission, translation, and direct communication with international departments.
For international patients, we help with practical coordination — travel planning, hospital admission guidance, and local support.
If this option is not suitable, we help explore other relevant treatments, clinical trials, or advanced care pathways.
From inquiry through to follow-up, our coordinators provide a single point of contact for the family.
CancerFax does not guarantee treatment access, eligibility, or clinical outcome. Our role is to help patients access accurate information, structured review, and appropriate specialist pathways.
Want to Understand Which Targeted Therapy Mechanism Applies to Your Cancer?
CancerFax connects patients with specialist oncologists who explain what your specific drug does and what to watch for.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified oncologist before making treatment decisions.