Targeted Therapy: 720 Real Stories

720 stories match targeted therapy. 488 of them mention chemotherapy.

Cancer Stories

A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR-mutated lung cancer with acquired resistance to osimertinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR L858R; acquired EGFR T790M; acquired EGFR L718Q

Metastatic Site: pleura, bone

After temporary disease control with sequential EGFR-targeted therapies, the right lung lesion enlarged again in June 2021; she was alive at the latest follow-up.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Leah, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Leah's Patient Story

Patient Info: Leah Phillips, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion

Metastatic Site: bone (spine, pelvis); malignant right pleural…

As of July 2024, Leah remained on daily Tagrisso with stable Stage IV EGFR-mutated lung cancer, no reported progression, healing/sclerotic bone metastases, and durable response for more than 4 years.

The Patient Story
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR-mutated lung cancer treated after osimertinib resistance

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR L858R, TP53 mutation; acquired EGFR T790M; acquired EGFR L718Q

Metastatic Site: lungs, bone

Dacomitinib produced brief stable disease, but the lung cancer progressed again by September 2021; she was alive at the latest follow-up.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IIIA ALK-rearranged NSCLC: pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant brigatinib

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, Under 40 | Stage III

Biomarkers: ALK gene rearrangement; CEA 8.49 ng/mL

He remained disease-free during 13 months of follow-up after neoadjuvant brigatinib reduced Stage IIIA ALK-rearranged NSCLC and curative-intent surgery showed pathologic complete response.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Near-complete response to osimertinib in Stage IV lung adenocarcinoma with rare EGFR mutations

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR S768I mutation, PD-L1 TPS 2%

Metastatic Site: pleura, bone, lymph nodes

After progression on vinorelbine and carboplatin, osimertinib produced a metabolic complete response by December 2023 and a near-complete radiologic response in March 2024. He remained on osimertinib with good tolerance and stable clinical condition.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage 3 EGFR-mutant lung cancer: osimertinib response to surgery

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage III

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; PD-L1 tumor proportion score <=1%

No recurrence or metastasis was reported after neoadjuvant osimertinib, R0 left upper lobectomy with mediastinal lymphadenectomy, and ongoing adjuvant osimertinib for Stage IIIA EGFR exon 19 deletion lung adenocarcinoma.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage I Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

HER2-positive breast cancer: surgery after neoadjuvant therapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage I

Biomarkers: ER 1% weakly positive; PR-negative; HER2-positive

No evidence of disease on follow-up while taking anastrozole after pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant T-DM1, lumpectomy/SLNB, radiotherapy, and adjuvant trastuzumab for Stage I HER2-positive breast cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage I Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

HER2-positive Stage I breast cancer: residual microinvasion after neoadjuvant T-DM1

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage I

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-positive

No evidence of disease on follow-up after neoadjuvant T-DM1, lumpectomy/SLNB showing only residual microinvasion/DCIS, continued adjuvant T-DM1 to 17 total cycles, and 52.5 Gy radiotherapy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

RET-fusion lung adenocarcinoma responding to pralsetinib and bevacizumab

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: KIF13A-RET fusion

Metastatic Site: pleura

He had 27 months of disease-free survival on pralsetinib before pleural and nodal recurrence. After bevacizumab was added, imaging showed reduction of the pleural lesion and mediastinal nodes and circulating tumor DNA became undetectable in December 2023.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV triple-negative breast cancer in remission: CBD and exercise for neuropathy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer. Blood and immune inflammation measures were tracked during neuropathy care.

Metastatic Site: liver

She was in remission for more than 5 years after Stage IV breast cancer with a solitary liver metastasis, while later managing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with CBD and an exercise program that improved symptoms and function.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Steve, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Steve's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Steve Slack, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: liver

As of June 2024, about 6 months after living-donor liver transplant, Steve had a clear surveillance scan and described himself as NED/no evidence of disease.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Lisa, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV Breast Cancer: Lisa's Patient Story

Patient Info: Lisa Ordmandy, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: Spine/bone: C2 and L3 vertebrae

As of June 2024, Lisa was living with metastatic breast cancer as a chronic illness, had recovered mobility after November 2023 spine surgery, continued close MD Anderson monitoring, and was being evaluated for possible clinical trials.

MD Anderson
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
Liz, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage III HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Liz's Patient Story

Patient Info: Liz O'Riordan, Female, 40s | Stage III

Biomarkers: ER-positive; HER2-negative; PIK3CA mutation reported by patient

As of June 2024, Liz described Stage III ER-positive/HER2-negative mixed ductal and lobular breast cancer followed by 2 locoregional recurrences after mastectomy; no distant metastatic disease was described for her personal story.

YouTube — Dr Liz O'Riordan
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

EGFR-mutated lung cancer with later small-cell transformation

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR L858R mutation; acquired EGFR T790M mutation

Metastatic Site: pleura/chest wall, ribs, brain, meninges,…

Disease progressed through multiple lines of therapy with brain and meningeal involvement. He died in September 2021, more than 9 years after his original 2012 diagnosis.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

More than five years with EGFR-mutated lung cancer and untreated brain metastases

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR L858R mutation; acquired EGFR T790M mutation

Metastatic Site: brain, pleura

Zorifertinib produced partial responses in both brain and extracranial disease, with 3 years of progression-free survival and more than 4 years of intracranial control. By December 2023, she remained alive on aumolertinib with overall survival of more than 65 months, or 5+ years, from treatment start.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

MET-Positive Metastatic Lung Cancer That First Appeared as a Breast Mass

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: MET exon 14 skipping mutation; acquired MET and resistance mutations

Metastatic Site: breast, liver, right adrenal gland

Capmatinib produced a marked response across most disease sites at 3 months, but a right adrenal metastasis progressed by 6 months while other sites continued responding.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

EGFR-mutated lung cancer treated with osimertinib during tuberculosis therapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion; acquired EGFR T790M mutation

Metastatic Site: pleura, left axillary lymph node

Osimertinib maintained a partial response throughout 9 months of tuberculosis treatment, with no new abdominal or brain lesions. By the end of tuberculosis treatment, she was more than 7 years from her original lung-cancer diagnosis.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Jessica, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal CancerColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: Jessica's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Jessica Dazzler, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: FoundationOne testing performed; exact mutation not stated

Metastatic Site: lungs, spine, rib

As of May 2024, Jessica said it took 3 years and 4 months to reach no evidence of disease after Stage IV colorectal cancer, though she remained anxious about future scans and possible circulating cancer.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

BRCA2-mutant metastatic breast cancer: complete response with rucaparib maintenance

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Germline BRCA2 mutation; somatic BRCA2 mutation; HER2 amplification not seen by FISH; grade III IDC

Metastatic Site: bone

She maintained a complete response for 2 years on rucaparib, letrozole, and zoledronic acid after upfront metastatic BRCA2-mutated breast cancer involving bone, axillary nodes, and right-breast nodules.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Irasema, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Irasema's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Irasema Partida Chavez, Female

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Irasema reported no evidence of breast cancer for 3 years after surgery and HER2-targeted treatment.

AACR
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED