Targeted Therapy: 720 Real Stories

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

Cancer Stories

Sonja, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Sonja's Patient Story

Patient Info: Sonja Rideout, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; Tempus testing later indicated immunotherapy as an option

Metastatic Site: Lungs; liver; bone: tailbone; thoracic lymph nodes

As of January 2026, Sonja was living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer after spread to lungs and liver, later tailbone and thoracic lymph nodes, and had moved to weekly carboplatin/gemcitabine plus monthly immunotherapy.

Susan G. Komen
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer: treatment and follow-up story

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ALK mutation/rearrangement; EGFR negative

Metastatic Site: Bone, including left humerus

As of January 2026, he described about 3 years on ALK-targeted oral therapy, feeling well, exercising 3-4 times per week, and living close to normal life with Stage IV ALK-positive lung cancer.

YouTube (ZH search)
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage IV triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2 mutations: complete metabolic response to trastuzumab deruxtecan

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

Biomarkers: Triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2-low/dubious staining and HER2 FISH-negative; somatic ERBB2/HER2 and mutations.

Metastatic Site: iliac bone lesions / bone metastases

As of January 2026, metastatic triple-negative invasive lobular breast cancer with HER2 mutations had a sustained complete metabolic response to trastuzumab deruxtecan for 20 months, with dose reduction for neutropenia and no pulmonary toxicity.

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

MET exon 14 skipping lung adenocarcinoma: sequential MET-TKI toxicity and ongoing chemotherapy

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

Biomarkers: MET exon 14 skipping mutation; EGFR negative; ALK negative; ROS1 negative; PD-L1 tumor proportion score 10%

Metastatic Site: pleura

The cancer recurred with pleural dissemination after surgery and adjuvant UFT. Sequential MET inhibitors and systemic therapies provided periods of disease control but were limited by ILD and non-ILD toxicities; at the report, he remained on carboplatin, pemetrexed, and bevacizumab.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Gastric AdenocarcinomaGastric Cancer

Stage IV gastric cancer with benign breast hemangioma during ramucirumab therapy

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

Biomarkers: Gastric cancer: HER2 negative, PD-L1 TPS >=5%

Metastatic Site: peritoneum; preaortic lymph nodes; omentum

After initial response to FOLFOX/nivolumab and temporary benefit from paclitaxel/ramucirumab and FOLFIRI, the gastric cancer progressed to massive ascites. Trifluridine/tipiracil was attempted, but she died from rapid disease progression.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer Discovered After Widespread Bone Metastases

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER 90–95%; PR 90–95%; HER2 IHC 0; Ki-67 5%; germline BRCA1/2 negative

Metastatic Site: bone, bone marrow

She was receiving ongoing letrozole and ribociclib for Stage IV hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with diffuse bone involvement.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

KRAS G12C Stage IV lung adenocarcinoma with synchronous urothelial carcinoma and durable response

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

Biomarkers: Lung adenocarcinoma: KRAS ; PD-L1 TPS 5%. Urothelial carcinoma: GATA3-positive; CK7-positive; TTF1-negative.

Metastatic Site: homolateral pulmonary metastases and N2 lymph nodes…

After enfortumab vedotin, the urothelial carcinoma reached complete radiologic response and the lung cancer remained partially responding/stable; treatment was stopped after 16 months, and PET 2 months later showed complete metabolic response.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Jennifer, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

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

Patient Info: Jennifer, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR genomic mutation

Metastatic Site: Not reported

Jennifer is alive more than 5.5 years after a Stage IV adenocarcinoma diagnosis, continuing EGFR-targeted treatment and living with ongoing side effects and surveillance needs.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer Metastatic to an Axillary Lymph Node Without Breast Disease

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

Biomarkers: BRCA1/2 negative

Metastatic Site: right axillary lymph node

Secondary cytoreductive surgery in April 2025 achieved complete macroscopic cytoreduction, and she was discharged without complications.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma with suspected myocardial metastasis responding to afatinib plus chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR L861Q; PD-L1 TPS/CPS 65%. TP53, MET and PIK3CA alterations also reported.

Metastatic Site: left ventricular myocardium; mediastinal lymph nodes…

As of December 2025, the suspected left-ventricular myocardial metastasis had shrunk after 2 courses of afatinib plus pemetrexed/cisplatin, and the patient had no cardiovascular events during monitoring.

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

Stage IV METex14 lung adenocarcinoma: responding well to capmatinib and SBRT

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

Biomarkers: MET exon 14 skipping mutation; PD-L1 >80%. EGFR/RAS/MEK wild type; lung-origin markers present.

Metastatic Site: brain; bone (thoracic/lumbar vertebrae, right iliac…

At 24 months after diagnosis, he was alive, asymptomatic, and continuing capmatinib with no evidence of progression and excellent tolerance.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage I Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Male breast cancer history complicated by suspected bone disease and later IgG-kappa multiple myeloma

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

Biomarkers: Breast cancer was ER/PR-positive and HER2-negative by FISH. Later workup showed IgG-kappa multiple myeloma with IgH rearrangement.

The patient achieved very good partial response after KBD and completed autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with engraftment, but later died of a novel coronavirus infection.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IVA EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma with malignant pleural effusion: stable disease on ivonescimab plus pemetrexed

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

Biomarkers: EGFR exon 19 deletion persisted. Later pleural fluid had PD-L1 TPS 40% / CPS 41, low TMB

Metastatic Site: pleura / malignant pleural effusion

As of August 2025, Stage IVA EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma with malignant pleural effusion was stable on ivonescimab plus pemetrexed after prior progression on gefitinib, almonertinib, and ivonescimab monotherapy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Metastatic Breast Cancer Causing Bile Duct Obstruction and Liver Failure

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

Biomarkers: Metastatic biopsy ER-negative, PR-negative, HER2-negative

Metastatic Site: bone, liver, common bile duct

Her metastatic breast cancer progressed rapidly with diffuse liver involvement and bile-duct invasion, leading to liver failure and death 28 days after admission.

PubMed Central
OutcomeIn Memory
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IVB SMARCA4-deficient NSCLC with brain metastasis: stable disease after surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and bevacizumab

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

Biomarkers: SMARCA4/BRG-1 loss with TP53 and other mutations; TMB high; PD-L1 <1%; MSI-H not detected.

Metastatic Site: brain

As of October 2025, the patient had stable disease, no brain recurrence, a controlled left lower-lobe lung lesion, and manageable treatment toxicity while continuing bevacizumab plus pemetrexed maintenance.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer