Targeted therapy is a drug treatment that works by blocking specific features of cancer cells. This
helps stop the cancer from growing and spreading.
Learn more about:
- How it works
- Targeted therapy side effects
- Video: What is targeted therapy?
- Podcast: Immunotherapy and targeted therapy
How it works
Targeted therapy is sometimes used to treat advanced stomach cancer. This treatment is usually given with chemotherapy every few weeks through a drip into a vein.
Learn more about targeted therapy.
Side effects of targeted therapy
Ask your doctor what side effects to expect. Possible side effects include:
- fever
- nausea
- diarrhoea
- high blood pressure
Sometimes, targeted therapy can affect the way the heart works. Tell your doctor immediately if you have any side effects.
→ READ MORE: Immunotherapy for stomach cancer
Video: What is targeted therapy?
Watch this short video to learn more about drug therapies, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy (Open Settings 
to turn on auto-generated subtitles in your language).
Podcast: Immunotherapy & Targeted Therapy
More resources
Prof David I Watson, Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Flinders University, and Senior Consultant Surgeon, Oesophago-Gastric Surgery Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Prof Bryan Burmeister, Senior Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay Hospital, QLD; Dr Natalie Collier, Radiation Oncologist, Wollongong Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Melissa Eastgate, A/Executive Director, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Brett Hall, Consumer; Natalie Lalor, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria; Chris Menzies, Upper GI Cancer Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Stefanie Simnadis, Clinical Dietitian, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Prof Rajvinder Singh, Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide, and Director, Gastroenterology Department and Head of Endoscopy, Lyell McEwin Hospital, SA.
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