The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization estimates that in 2006, 44.1% of hospice admissions had cancer as primary diagnosis, still representing the most common diagnosis in this level of care. In the recent years, the treatment of cancer sustained unprecedented advances with better understanding of cancer biology. Growth factor receptors emerged as target for effective therapy providing significant clinical benefit, for example epidermal growth factor receptor 2 or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 + breast cancer disease has been routinely treated with trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody, with significant survival benefit. Other cancers had their treatment changed by targeted therapy. This article reviews concepts of cancer cell biology and analyze the current standard of care use of targeted therapy. The data highlights aspects of targeted therapy important to health care professionals involved in hospice and palliative care of patients with cancer.
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