1. What are targeted drugs? Targeted drugs are the most advanced drugs used to treat cancer, and they are like “guided missiles” that specifically select tumor cells when they enter the body, so that the tumor cells will specifically die without affecting the normal tissue cells around the tumor. Therefore, targeted drugs are also called “biological missiles”. Targeted drugs are high-tech drugs produced with the development of contemporary molecular biology and cell biology. 2. What is the difference between targeted drugs and chemotherapy drugs? The biggest difference between targeted drugs and conventional chemotherapeutic drugs lies in their mechanism of action: conventional chemotherapeutic drugs work through the poisoning of cells. Since they cannot accurately identify tumor cells, they kill tumor cells and also affect normal cells, so they produce greater toxic side effects. In contrast, targeted drugs are developed to target tumor genes, which can identify the characteristic sites on tumor cells determined by genes unique to tumor cells, and by binding to them (or other similar mechanisms), block the signaling pathways that control cell growth and proliferation in tumor cells, thus killing tumor cells and stopping their proliferation. Because of such characteristics, targeted drugs are not only effective, but also have much fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy. The treatment method of using targeted drugs is called “targeted therapy”. 3. Are the side effects of targeted drugs serious? Different targeted drugs have different side effects due to different mechanisms of action, but in general, the side effects of targeted drugs are much smaller than those of chemotherapy drugs, such as gastrointestinal reactions, hematotoxicity, neurotoxicity, heart, liver and kidney toxicity, and hair loss. Most of them are tolerable side effects such as skin rash, dry skin and reduced appetite, and the performance of certain side effects is also a reference indicator of the effectiveness of drugs. 4. How to apply targeted drugs? Not all cancer patients are suitable for the application of targeted drugs. Clinicians will examine the corresponding targets in tumor tissues or blood of different patients, and only those who are suitable for the application of targeted drugs can be applied according to the test results. 5. Are targeted drugs very expensive? At present, China Charity Federation has established a targeted drug charity assistance program with international pharmaceutical companies. For patients who have been evaluated by designated medical institutions to meet the indications for the application of targeted drugs, and who have obtained obvious efficacy and no serious adverse reactions after a period of continuous targeted drug treatment, but who cannot afford to continue the cost of targeted treatment financially, the corresponding company can donate drugs to China Charity Federation free of charge, and then China Charity Federation will give drugs directly to the eligible patients.