International Journal of Clinical Case Reports 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 79-86 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/ijccr 79 Research Report Open Access Targeted Therapy for Specific Genetic Variations in Cancer Jiaren Zhou Zhuji Central Hospital, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: 2984078657@qq.com International Journal of Clinical Case Reports 2024, Vol.14, No.2 doi: 10.5376/ijccr.2024.14.0010 Received: 29 Mar., 2024 Accepted: 30 Apr., 2024 Published: 12 May, 2024 Copyright © 2024 Zhou, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Zhou J.R., 2024, Targeted therapy for specific genetic variations in cancer, International Journal of Clinical Case Reports, 14(2): 79-86 (doi: 10.5376/ijccr.2024.14.0010) Abstract Targeted therapy for specific genetic variations in cancer represents an important breakthrough in the field of modern medicine. Targeted therapy provides more effective and precise treatment methods by intervening with specific molecular targets or communication pathways in cancer cells. Especially in cancer treatment driven by specific genetic variations, targeted therapy has achieved significant success, significantly improving the survival rate and quality of life of patients. Targeted therapy emphasizes the crucial role of molecular diagnosis and biomarkers, encouraging deeper research into the molecular mechanisms of diseases in order to find new therapeutic targets. This study discusses the role of genetic variation in cancer and the principles and applications of targeted therapy. It combines relevant cases to deeply explore the importance of targeted therapy for specific genetic variations in cancer, providing profound insights for better response to cancer and improving treatment effectiveness, and promoting progress in the medical field. Keywords Cancer; Genetic variation; Targeted therapy; Personalized medicine; Case analysis Cancer is a disease characterized by the abnormal growth and spread of cells, which can occur in various organs and tissues of the human body. According to data from the World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, causing over 9 million deaths annually. Different types of cancer exhibit distinct pathological characteristics and treatment responses, making cancer treatment highly challenging. The global epidemic trends of cancer prevalence indicate a continuous rise in incidence, posing significant health and economic burdens on affected individuals and exerting immense pressure on society and healthcare systems. The genetic basis of cancer has always been of great concern to researchers. During the process of cancer initiation and development, gene mutations and genetic variations play crucial roles. These genetic variations can be inherited from parents or caused by environmental factors throughout life. Research on the genetic basis helps people better understand the mechanisms of cancer occurrence and provides a foundation for targeted treatments against specific genetic variations. Genetic variations refer to DNA sequences in an individual's genome that differ from the reference genome. These variations can include single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), gene mutations, gene rearrangements, and so on. Genetic variations can exist widely among individuals or within populations, and they are a part of biological diversity, serving as one of the driving forces of evolution. Targeted therapy is a cancer treatment strategy designed to intervene in specific biological processes or molecular signaling pathways within cancer cells. This treatment approach selectively disrupts the survival and proliferation of cancer cells, reducing damage to normal cells, while simultaneously enhancing the effectiveness and tolerance of the treatment (Jacob et al., 2021). The key to targeted therapy lies in accurately identifying cancer-related molecular targets and using corresponding drugs or treatment methods for intervention. The development of targeted therapy can be traced back to the late 20th century when scientists first revealed specific molecular changes in certain cancer cells. These molecular changes include gene mutations, protein overexpression, and abnormalities in signaling pathways, which have become crucial targets for targeted therapy. The advent of the first generation of targeted drugs marked a significant breakthrough in the field of cancer treatment, such as the successful use of Imatinib for treating chronic myeloid leukemia, demonstrating the feasibility of targeted therapy.
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