What is Precision Oncology?

The integration of biomarkers, genetic testing and molecular profiling into cancer patient care decision making is a critical step toward better outcomes.

Precision oncology, also known as precision medicine in oncology, is an innovative approach that tailors medical treatment to individual characteristics of each patient, particularly focusing on genetic information extracted from big data (Hamamoto et al., 2020). This strategy involves molecular profiling of tumors to identify specific alterations that can be targeted with treatments, aiming to provide the most effective and personalized care (Lassen et al., 2021). By customizing oncological care based on unique patient genomics and tumor features, precision oncology has shown success in improving outcomes, quality of life, and overcoming drug resistance in cancer treatment (Henderson et al., 2023).

The core principle of precision oncology is to match the most accurate and effective treatments with each individual cancer patient, considering factors such as genetic markers, lifestyle, and environmental influences (Zhang et al., 2022). This approach represents a paradigm shift in cancer therapy, aiming to deliver more clinical benefits and potentially reduce healthcare costs compared to traditional non-precision oncology treatments (Saxena et al., 2022). Precision oncology initiatives take into account the variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle factors of each patient to identify actionable mutations or biomarkers and tailor treatments accordingly (Yates et al., 2018).

Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have revolutionized cancer diagnosis and treatment, leading to the emergence of precision oncology as a new branch of precision medicine (Saadeh et al., 2019). By leveraging genetic information and molecular characteristics of tumors, precision oncology aims to optimize cancer drug administration globally based on individual genetic mutations (Hamamoto et al., 2022). Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence technologies in radiogenomics has enhanced precision medicine in oncology, particularly in the realm of oncology care.

In conclusion, precision oncology represents a transformative approach in cancer treatment, focusing on individualized care based on genetic and molecular profiles to provide the most effective and personalized therapies for cancer patients. This precision medicine framework has the potential to revolutionize cancer management by improving treatment outcomes, quality of life, and addressing challenges such as drug resistance in oncology.

References:

1. Hamamoto, R., Suvarna, K., Yamada, M., Kobayashi, K., Shinkai, N., Miyake, M., … & Kaneko, S. (2020). Application of artificial intelligence technology in oncology: towards the establishment of precision medicine. Cancers, 12(12), 3532. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12123532
2. Hamamoto, R., Takasawa, K., Machino, H., Kobayashi, K., Takahashi, S., Bolatkan, A., … & Kaneko, S. (2022). Application of non-negative matrix factorization in oncology: one approach for establishing precision medicine. Briefings in Bioinformatics, 23(4). https://doi.org/10.1093/bib/bbac246
3. Henderson, R., French, D., Stewart, E., Smart, D., Idica, A., Redmond, S., … & Lawler, M. (2023). Delivering the precision oncology paradigm: reduced r&d costs and greater return on investment through a companion diagnostic informed precision oncology medicines approach. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-023-00590-9
4. Lassen, U., Makaroff, L., Italiano, A., Vassal, G., García‐Foncillas, J., & Avouac, B. (2021). Precision oncology: a clinical and patient perspective. Future Oncology, 17(30), 3995-4009. https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2021-0688
5. Saadeh, C., Bright, D., & Rustem, D. (2019). Precision medicine in oncology pharmacy practice. Acta Medica Academica, 48(1), 90. https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.246
6. Saxena, S., Jena, B., Gupta, N., Das, S., Sarmah, D., Bhattacharya, P., … & Suri, J. (2022). Role of artificial intelligence in radiogenomics for cancers in the era of precision medicine. Cancers, 14(12), 2860. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14122860
7. Yates, L., Seoane, J., Tourneau, C., Siu, L., Marais, R., Michiels, S., … & Varga, A. (2018). The european society for medical oncology (esmo) precision medicine glossary. Annals of Oncology, 29(1), 30-35. https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdx707
8. Zhang, B., Ao, B., Lu, X., Yang, S., Bao, P., Wang, H., … & Huang, Y. (2022). Global research trends on precision oncology: a systematic review, bibliometrics, and visualized study. Medicine, 101(43), e31380. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000031380