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Oncology · UK

Targeted therapy - precision cancer treatment, done properly.

Comprehensive molecular profiling first, MDT-led drug selection, and NHS pathways checked before you pay.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private targeted therapy costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges - costs vary widely by drug.

In short

Molecular profiling first: £1,500–£4,500, drug cycles from £4,000/month.

Item Indicative range
Medical oncology consultation £250–£450
Comprehensive tumour molecular profiling £1,500–£4,500
Circulating tumour DNA (liquid biopsy) £1,200–£2,800
Targeted therapy cycle (oral TKI) £4,000–£12,000 per month
Monoclonal antibody infusion cycle £6,000–£20,000 per cycle
Antibody–drug conjugate cycle £8,000–£25,000+ per cycle
Restaging CT or PET-CT £800–£1,800

Drug prices vary hugely by agent, tumour type and dose. Many licensed targeted therapies are available on the NHS through NICE and the Cancer Drugs Fund - we always check that first. Private is worth the money only when the NHS route does not fit, is delayed, or the drug is not yet approved.

The problem

The right profile, the right drug, and the NHS route checked first.

Targeted therapy is where general private oncology sometimes rushes - a drug started on partial profiling, a licensed NHS route skipped, and toxicity managed reactively. We fix all three before you start.

  • Profile the tumour properly, first

    Comprehensive DNA and RNA sequencing plus a wide panel of biomarkers. Partial profiling misses the driver and wastes the drug.

  • Match the drug to the driver

    A licensed agent for the specific mutation, in the right line of treatment, with any combinations chosen at MDT - not from a marketing brochure.

  • Check the NHS route before you pay

    Many targeted therapies are on the NHS through NICE and the Cancer Drugs Fund. Private is only worth it where the NHS route does not fit.

When it helps

When targeted therapy is the right step.

The clinical pictures we see most, plus the one red flag that means same-day oncology rather than a profiling turnaround.

  • Advanced non-small cell lung cancer

    EGFR, ALK, ROS1, KRAS G12C, MET, RET, BRAF, HER2 and NTRK-driven tumours - oral targeted therapy is often the first-line answer.

  • HER2-positive breast cancer

    Trastuzumab, pertuzumab and antibody–drug conjugates like trastuzumab deruxtecan for HER2 metastatic disease.

  • Colorectal cancer

    RAS wild-type tumours for anti-EGFR agents; BRAF-mutated for combination therapy; MSI-high for immune checkpoint plus targeted approaches.

  • Melanoma

    BRAF and MEK inhibitor combinations for BRAF V600 mutations. Immunotherapy usually paired or sequenced.

  • Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST)

    Imatinib and later-line TKIs for KIT and PDGFRA-driven GIST - a paradigm targeted-therapy story.

  • Chronic myeloid leukaemia

    BCR-ABL TKIs (imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib, ponatinib) - chronic, well-controlled disease for most.

  • Ovarian and prostate cancer with BRCA

    PARP inhibitors for BRCA1/2, ATM, PALB2 and other homologous-recombination deficient tumours.

  • Red flag: rapid clinical deterioration

    Rapidly worsening symptoms, breathlessness, spinal cord compression or new confusion are same-day oncology - not a routine profiling turnaround.

Drug families

The families of targeted therapy, in plain English.

What each drug family does - TKIs, monoclonal antibodies, antibody–drug conjugates, PARP and CDK inhibitors and radioligand therapies.

  • Small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)

    Oral tablets that block driver kinases inside the cancer cell. EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, MEK, VEGFR and many more. Cycles are continuous.

  • Monoclonal antibodies

    Infused antibodies that bind cancer-cell surface targets - HER2, EGFR, VEGF. Given every 2–3 weeks, often alongside chemotherapy.

  • Antibody–drug conjugates

    Antibodies with a chemotherapy payload delivered directly to the cancer cell. Trastuzumab deruxtecan, sacituzumab govitecan, enfortumab vedotin.

  • PARP inhibitors

    Oral tablets that exploit BRCA and homologous-recombination defects. Olaparib, niraparib, rucaparib, talazoparib.

  • CDK4/6 inhibitors

    Oral tablets for hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. Palbociclib, ribociclib, abemaciclib - with an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant.

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors

    Not strictly targeted therapy, but often combined - anti-PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 agents that release the brakes on the immune system.

  • Bispecific and T-cell engagers

    Newer agents that bring T-cells to cancer cells. Used in lymphoma, myeloma and small-cell lung cancer.

  • Radioligand therapy

    Radioactive isotope attached to a molecule that targets the tumour - lutetium PSMA for prostate, lutetium DOTATATE for neuroendocrine tumours.

Safety and monitoring

What to expect on treatment - honestly.

Targeted therapy is more precise than chemo but not gentle. The things worth planning are monitoring, side-effect management, and drug interactions.

  • Not chemo, not gentle

    Targeted therapy is not chemo but is not risk-free. Skin, gut, liver, heart, lung, thyroid and blood counts all need monitoring, and every drug has its own signature side-effect profile.

  • Molecular match matters more than the price tag

    A drug given to a tumour without the matching target does not work. Comprehensive profiling first is the single most important step.

  • Skin, nails and mouth

    Rash, dry skin, mouth ulcers and nail changes are common with EGFR inhibitors and MEK inhibitors. Dermatology support is planned from cycle one.

  • Diarrhoea and gut

    Diarrhoea, nausea and appetite loss are common. Early anti-diarrhoeals and dose adjustments prevent hospital admissions.

  • Heart and blood pressure

    HER2 agents, VEGF-blocking drugs and some TKIs affect the heart and blood pressure. Baseline echo, ECG and regular monitoring are standard.

  • Liver and thyroid

    Bloods every cycle catch liver injury and thyroid change before symptoms appear. Immune-related side effects can hit any organ.

  • Fertility, pregnancy and contraception

    Most targeted agents are teratogenic. Contraception planning before starting; fertility preservation discussed where children are planned.

  • Interactions with other medicines

    TKIs interact widely with antibiotics, antifungals, antiepileptics, herbal supplements and grapefruit. Every prescription and supplement gets reviewed before starting.

  • Red flags on treatment

    Fever, breathlessness, severe diarrhoea, new confusion, chest pain, spreading rash or eye symptoms need the same-day oncology team - not a routine call.

Reading your treatment note

Your treatment note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever agent was chosen - TKI, antibody or antibody–drug conjugate - the note the oncologist sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant medical oncologist reviewing molecular profiling results

A quiet reminder

Oncology language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the molecular report and the treatment plan before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Diagnosis, stage and driver mutation

    Tumour type, stage, driver mutation identified on profiling, and any co-mutations relevant to drug choice.

  2. 02 Technique

    Drug, dose and cycle

    Agent chosen, dose, schedule and any premedication. Whether given on the NHS Cancer Drugs Fund, private, or on trial.

  3. 03 Findings

    Response and toxicity

    RECIST or tumour-marker response after 8–12 weeks. Toxicities graded, dose adjustments made, quality of life scored.

  4. 04 Impression

    Continue, switch, or add - with rationale

    Read this first: continue if working, switch at progression, and what red flags mean a same-day call.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Targeted therapy is often covered where the drug is licensed for your indication. Off-licence and unlicensed use are variably covered. NHS Cancer Drugs Fund is always checked first.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about targeted therapy.

Quick answers on profiling, drug families, NHS access, side effects and cost.

  • What is targeted therapy?

    Targeted therapy is a group of cancer drugs designed to hit a specific molecular abnormality - a mutation, an over-expressed protein or a signalling pathway - that drives the cancer. Unlike chemotherapy, which damages any dividing cell, targeted therapy tries to act only on the cancer, sparing healthy tissue where possible.

  • Do I need molecular profiling before starting?

    Yes for almost all solid tumours where targeted therapy is an option. Comprehensive tumour profiling - DNA and RNA sequencing plus specific tests for EGFR, ALK, HER2, BRAF, KRAS, ROS1, RET, NTRK, PD-L1 and mismatch repair - identifies the driver and matches you to the right drug. Starting a targeted therapy without a matching biomarker is unlikely to work.

  • How is it different from chemotherapy or immunotherapy?

    Chemotherapy damages dividing cells broadly. Immunotherapy releases the brakes on the immune system so it can attack the cancer. Targeted therapy blocks a specific molecular driver inside the cancer cell. They are often combined - for instance, a targeted antibody plus chemotherapy, or immunotherapy plus a TKI.

  • Is it on the NHS?

    Many targeted agents are available on the NHS through NICE-approved indications and the Cancer Drugs Fund. Access depends on the specific drug, tumour type, line of treatment and biomarker. We always check NHS access first - private is worth the money only when the NHS route does not fit, is delayed, or the drug is not yet approved for your indication.

  • What are the side effects?

    Every drug has its own profile. Common patterns include skin rash and mouth ulcers with EGFR inhibitors, diarrhoea with many TKIs, high blood pressure with VEGF blockers, heart effects with HER2 agents, and thyroid or liver changes with immunotherapy combinations. Most are managed with dose adjustments and supportive treatment; regular bloods and clinic reviews catch problems early.

  • How much does private targeted therapy cost in the UK?

    Rough monthly costs: oral TKIs £4,000–£12,000, monoclonal antibody cycles £6,000–£20,000, antibody–drug conjugates £8,000–£25,000+. Molecular profiling is a one-off £1,500–£4,500. Add consultations, imaging and supportive care.

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