Molecular Targeted Therapy in Patients with Haematological Malignancies Seen at a Suburban Teaching Hospital in the South-south Region of Nigeria

Background: Targeted therapy refers to agents that block the growth of malignant cells by interfering with specific targeted molecules needed for carcinogenesis and growth of tumors rather than by simply interfering with all rapidly dividing cells. Haematological malignancies (HM) are clonal haemopoietic disorders that arise as a result of varied genetic damages to several key biochemical pathways in cellular differentiation, proliferation and maturation. These pathways have the focus of a new generation of targeted therapy that have revolutionized the management of haematological malignancies. Methodology: The study was a retrospective study carried out at Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara. Participants were recruited consecutively as diagnosis were made. Data obtained were analysed using Statistical Package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results: A total of 132 patients with haematological malignancies participated in the study. Males were 71 (53.8%) females were 61 (46.2%). 108 (81.8%) of the patients did not use molecular targeted therapeutic agents while 24 (18.2%) used. and 56.8% of the patients with haematological malignancies were dead at the end of follow-up. Financial constraints accounted for the reason 66 patients, (61.1%) did not use molecular targeted therapies while unavailability of the specific therapy within the country accounted for the reason why 42 patients (38.89%) could not access them. Use of targeted therapy was found to have a significant relationship with treatment outcome (p = 0.035). Patients who used molecular targeted therapy were more likely to be alive at the end of follow-up. Conclusion: Molecular targeted therapies hold tremendous promise in the treatment of haematological malignancies, with associated improvements in patients quality of life and outcomes. However, challenges such as availability, accessibility and cost remain especially in a developing country such as ours.