Advancing Cancer Care Through Diversity: A Comprehensive Review of Conventional, Targeted, and Emerging Therapies

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with projections indicating approximately 2,114,850 new cases and 626,140 deaths in the United States alone in 2026. Traditional modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have been foundational but are often limited by toxicity, resistance, and incomplete efficacy against advanced or metastatic disease. Over the past two decades, a diverse array of therapies has emerged, including targeted small-molecule inhibitors, peptide drugs, monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), immunotherapies (e.g., checkpoint inhibitors), cell-based therapies (CAR-T, CAR-NK, TIL), gene therapies (including CRISPR-based editing), oncolytic viruses, nanotechnology-enhanced delivery systems, and photodynamic approaches. These modalities emphasize precision, personalization, and multimodal combinations to improve outcomes while reducing side effects. This review synthesizes current knowledge on these diverse therapies, their mechanisms, clinical applications, advantages, limitations, and future directions, drawing from recent advances up to 2025–2026. While promising, challenges such as resistance, cost, accessibility, and toxicity persist, underscoring the need for continued innovation and equitable implementation.