Precision Medicine in Oncology: Targeted Therapies and Genetic Profiling
Keywords:
Precision medicine, oncology, targeted therapies, genetic profiling, molecular diagnostics, personalized treatmentAbstract
Precision medicine in oncology represents a paradigm shift in cancer treatment, focusing on tailoring therapies to the genetic and molecular profiles of individual patients' tumors. This approach leverages advances in genetic profiling and targeted therapies to optimize clinical outcomes and minimize adverse effects. Targeted therapies, including small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies, specifically disrupt oncogenic pathways, demonstrating significant efficacy in various malignancies such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and hematologic cancers. Genetic profiling, facilitated by next-generation sequencing (NGS), identifies actionable mutations and biomarkers that guide treatment decisions. For instance, mutations in the EGFR gene in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can be effectively targeted by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), resulting in improved survival rates. Additionally, the identification of BRCA1/2 mutations in breast and ovarian cancers has led to the use of PARP inhibitors, showcasing the power of precision oncology. Despite its promise, precision medicine faces challenges, including tumor heterogeneity, resistance mechanisms, and the high cost of genetic testing. Ongoing research aims to address these issues by developing combination therapies, exploring novel biomarkers, and improving accessibility to genetic profiling. This review discusses the current landscape of targeted therapies and genetic profiling in oncology, highlighting key clinical trials, emerging trends, and future directions. By integrating molecular diagnostics and personalized treatment strategies, precision medicine continues to revolutionize oncology, offering the potential for more effective and individualized cancer care.
Downloads
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Alice Brown
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.