Kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies in oncology: clinical implications

Key Points There is a misconception that targeted cancer therapies (TCT) incite fewer and less-severe toxicities than conventional chemotherapy; receptor crossreactivity between malignant and healthy cells can lead to off-target toxicities Physicians should be aware of undesirable effects of TCTs — including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, dermatological, and haematological — to help prevent or mitigate these effects, especially when they might reflect good treatment response TCTs are generally considered to be better tolerated than conventional chemotherapies; however, economic costs associated with toxicities and symptom burden must be better clarified More patients are choosing to continue TCTs late in the disease course, sometimes without clear clinical benefit, which poses new challenges for appropriate care at the end of life