Great advances have been made in cancer treatment in recent years. One of the most remarkable among these developments is the use of smart drugs. Smart drugs target cancer cells, making the treatment process more effective and safer. Here is the role of smart drugs in cancer treatment and promising developments in this field.
Definition and Functioning of Smart Drugs
Smart drugs are biological agents that provide effective treatment by directly targeting cancer cells. These drugs bind to specific molecules on the surface of cancer cells and aim to destroy these cells. Unlike conventional chemotherapy, smart drugs focus only on cancerous cells without damaging healthy cells. In this way, the side effects experienced during the treatment process are significantly reduced and the quality of life of patients increases.
Smart Drugs According to Cancer Types
Smart drugs have been developed for different types of cancer. For example, trastuzumab (Herceptin), used in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer, offers an effective treatment by targeting the HER2 protein found in this cancer type. Similarly, imatinib (Gleevec), used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), stops the growth of cancer cells by inhibiting the activity of the BCR-ABL protein. Such specific targeted therapies offer a more personalised approach depending on the biological characteristics of the cancer.
Advantages of Smart Drugs
One of the biggest advantages of smart drugs is the reduction of side effects during the treatment process. While conventional chemotherapy targets both cancerous and healthy cells, smart drugs focus only on cancer cells. In this way, patients experience fewer side effects during the treatment process. In addition, since smart drugs are developed for the specific characteristics of cancer cells, the treatment process is more effective and the risk of cancer recurrence is reduced.
Research and Development Activities
The development and application of smart drugs requires intensive research and development work. Scientists study the biological properties of cancer cells and develop specific molecules to target these cells. Advances in genetics and molecular biology play a major role in this process. Clinical trials are an important step to evaluate the safety and efficacy of smart drugs. These trials are essential for the approval of new treatment modalities and their delivery to patients.
Future Perspectives
Smart drugs are recognised as a revolutionary innovation in cancer treatment. In the future, it is expected that smart drugs will be developed for more cancer types and existing treatments will be further improved. In addition, combination therapies and the use of smart drugs with other treatment modalities may increase the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Advances in personalised medicine may make the treatment process more successful by determining the most appropriate treatment methods according to the genetic characteristics of patients.
Patients’ Experiences
Patients who are treated with smart drugs experience the advantages of this innovative treatment method. Reduced side effects and a more comfortable treatment process improve patients’ quality of life and increase their motivation for treatment. Thanks to the promising results of this new treatment method provided by smart drugs, patients have a stronger psychological support in the fight against cancer.
Conclusion and Evaluation
Smart drugs stand out as a promising development in cancer treatment. These drugs make the treatment process more effective and safer by targeting cancer cells and improve the quality of life of patients by reducing side effects. With the continuation of research and development studies, the role of smart drugs in cancer treatment will further increase and will give hope to more patients.
