What Are the Most Common Targeted Cancer Drugs? Key Targets and Treatment Uses

What are the most common targeted cancer drugs? Common targeted cancer drugs include therapies targeting EGFR, ALK, HER2, KRAS, BRAF, VEGF/VEGFR, PARP, and CDK4/6. The appropriate treatment depends on the cancer type, molecular target, biomarkers, and treatment history.

Targeted cancer drugs are an important part of precision oncology, acting on specific molecular targets involved in tumor growth.

As a global pharmaceutical distributor, DengYueMed provides information on common cancer targets and representative targeted drugs for patients, healthcare professionals, and industry partners.

1. EGFR-Targeted Drugs

EGFR is one of the most common therapeutic targets in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EGFR-targeted drugs are mainly used in patients whose tumors carry specific EGFR mutations.

Common EGFR-targeted drugs include:

• Gefitinib
• Erlotinib
• Afatinib
• Osimertinib

Representative China-developed drugs include:

• Sunvozertinib
• Almonertinib
• Furmonertinib

These EGFR-targeted drugs are used for patients with specific EGFR alterations, with treatment selection based on the mutation subtype, disease setting, and previous treatment.

For those researching common targeted cancer drugs for lung cancer, EGFR inhibitors are an important category, and biomarker testing can help identify suitable molecular targets.

2. ALK-Targeted Drugs

ALK gene fusions are important oncogenic drivers in a subset of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Common ALK-targeted drugs include:

• Crizotinib
• Alectinib
• Ceritinib
• Brigatinib
• Lorlatinib

Representative China-developed drugs include:

• Iruplinalkib
• Envonalkib

As next-generation ALK inhibitors continue to develop, treatment options for ALK-positive NSCLC are expanding, providing more targeted treatment approaches for patients at different stages of therapy.

3. HER2-Targeted Drugs

HER2 is an important molecular target in breast cancer, gastric cancer, and several other solid tumors.

Common HER2-targeted drugs include:

• Trastuzumab
• Pertuzumab
• Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1)
• Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd)
• Tucatinib

Representative China-developed drug:

• Disitamab Vedotin: A China-developed HER2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) approved for certain HER2-positive gastric cancer, urothelial cancer, and breast cancer indications.

HER2-targeted treatment includes monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

For those researching what are the most common targeted cancer drugs, HER2-targeted therapies are an important category, with treatment selection depending on HER2 status, cancer type, and approved indications.

4. VEGF/VEGFR-Targeted Drugs

VEGF and related signaling pathways play an important role in tumor angiogenesis, the process through which tumors develop new blood vessels.

Common VEGF/VEGFR-targeted drugs include:

• Bevacizumab
• Apatinib
• Lenvatinib
• Sorafenib
• Regorafenib
• Anlotinib

Apatinib and Anlotinib are representative China-developed targeted drugs.

When considering common targeted cancer drugs, VEGF/VEGFR-targeted therapies represent an important category because angiogenesis is a therapeutic target across multiple solid tumors.

5. BRAF-Targeted Drugs

BRAF is an important component of the MAPK signaling pathway. For patients whose tumors have specific BRAF alterations, BRAF-targeted treatment or BRAF/MEK combination therapy may be considered.

Common BRAF- or MAPK-pathway targeted drugs include:

• Dabrafenib
• Vemurafenib
• Encorafenib
• Trametinib
• Binimetinib

Some BRAF inhibitors are used in combination with MEK inhibitors. The appropriate treatment depends on the cancer type and molecular characteristics.

For example, dabrafenib and trametinib are used as a targeted combination in certain cancers with specific BRAF alterations. NCI also lists BRAF V600E and MEK-directed therapy among molecularly selected treatment approaches for NSCLC.

6. KRAS-Targeted Drugs

KRAS was historically considered difficult to target directly. The development of inhibitors against specific KRAS mutations has created new options for some patients with KRAS-driven cancers.

Examples include:

• Sotorasib
• Adagrasib

Representative China-developed drug:

• Fulzerasib: A KRAS G12C inhibitor conditionally approved in China for adults with advanced NSCLC with a KRAS G12C mutation who have received at least one prior systemic therapy.

For patients searching what are the most common targeted cancer drugs for KRAS-mutated tumors, it is particularly important to distinguish between different KRAS mutation subtypes, such as KRAS G12C.

7. PARP Inhibitors

PARP inhibitors work by interfering with DNA damage repair. They have an important role in selected tumors with BRCA1/2 mutations or other homologous recombination repair deficiencies (HRD).

Common PARP inhibitors include:

• Olaparib
• Niraparib
• Rucaparib
• Talazoparib

PARP inhibitors may be used in selected patients with ovarian cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and other malignancies, depending on the specific drug, biomarker profile, and approved indication.

8. CDK4/6 Inhibitors

CDK4/6 inhibitors are mainly used in certain patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive), HER2-negative breast cancer.

Common CDK4/6 inhibitors include:

• Palbociclib
• Ribociclib
• Abemaciclib

Representative China-developed drug:

• Culmerciclib: The world’s first CDK2/4/6 triple inhibitor, developed for patients with treatment-resistant breast cancer.

For patients looking for targeted drugs for breast cancer, CDK4/6 inhibitors are an important treatment category alongside HER2-targeted therapies and other biomarker-directed options.

9. MET-, RET-, ROS1-, and Other Targeted Drugs

As precision oncology continues to advance, targeted treatments for less common molecular drivers are becoming increasingly important.

Examples include:

• MET: Savolitinib and other MET inhibitors
• RET: Selpercatinib and other RET inhibitors
• ROS1: Crizotinib, Repotrectinib, and other ROS1 inhibitors
• NTRK: Larotrectinib, Entrectinib, and other NTRK inhibitors

NCI’s targeted therapy database also includes drugs approved for cancers with specific molecular alterations, including BRAF, NTRK, RET, and other targets.

What Are the Most Common Targeted Cancer Drugs by Cancer Type?

Targeted drugs are not selected based solely on the name of the cancer. Instead, treatment decisions may involve the cancer type, genetic mutations, molecular biomarkers, disease stage, previous treatment, and the approved indication of the drug.

Different cancers may have different actionable molecular targets. The following table provides examples of common cancer types, associated biomarkers, and representative targeted drugs.

Note: The table includes selected representative targets and drugs, not a complete list. The same targeted drug may be used for different cancers, while indications, treatment conditions, and approvals vary by country or region.

Conclusion

Common targeted cancer drugs include therapies directed against EGFR, ALK, HER2, BRAF, KRAS, MET, RET, ROS1, VEGF, PARP, and CDK4/6. Treatment selection depends on the cancer type, molecular characteristics, biomarkers, and treatment history.

There is no single targeted drug suitable for all cancers or patients. This article is for educational purposes only; specific drug selection, indications, and treatment plans should follow local approvals, clinical guidelines, and professional medical advice.

Global pharmaceutical distributor DengYueMed follows developments in China’s innovative drugs and oncology medicines, while connecting pharmaceutical resources with international markets and supporting global industry partners with relevant drug and supply chain information.

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