Bile duct cancer treatment with targeted therapy

Targeted therapy treats bile duct cancer with drugs acting on specific target proteins in tumor cells as precisely as possible. For example, these proteins can play an essential role in maintaining the vital activity of cancer cells or their reproduction. Yet, at the same time, healthy tissues remain unaffected. Drugs block molecules vital to cancer cells, inhibit cell reproduction, activate the immune system, and stop blood vessel growth that feeds the bile tumor. In certain situations, the natural process of cell death is triggered in normal body cells. Cancer cells block these mechanisms and thus become immortal. And targeted therapy can start them up again. Drugs are often taken orally (by ingestion) in tablets or capsules. However, there are intravenous and subcutaneous options. The frequency of taking medications and the duration of courses depend on the type of tumor, the stage of the disease, and the reaction of the patient's body. Targeted therapy, like classical chemotherapy, can be carried out in cycles: the patient is injected with drugs, and then the body is given a break. It's important to note that targeted therapy is usually prescribed with other treatment options, such as chemotherpay, surgery, or radiation. That is because oncologists can obtain much more effective treatment results by having treatments combined.