Zachary S. Brooks, PhD & Husna Rahim, PharmD
Precision Oncology and Biomarker Tests: A New Era of Personalized Cancer Care. Is genomic medicine a viable option to advance cancer treatment in today’s data driven environment? By utilizing detailed biomarker tests to guide therapeutic decisions, precision oncology promises to transform the effectiveness of cancer treatment by aligning specific genetic profiles with appropriate targeted therapies. Biomarker tests, drug susceptibility analyses, and financial burden in oncology care all highlight the necessity of personalized treatment modalities.
Data makes strong case for genotype-driven cancer treatment. Biomarker tests identify specific genetic mutations in tumors. The interaction between mutations and drugs help predict how a patient will respond to chemotherapy based on their individual genetic makeup. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving genotype-driven treatment survived 31.2 months compared to 13.9 months for those receiving non-genotype-driven therapy (Shaw 2019). This data Is just one of many suggesting that genotyping is an effective tool for improving patient outcomes and providing personalized cancer treatments.\
Reduced financial burden for both patients and healthcare systems. Drug susceptibility analyses can help clinicians predict response to specific drugs or drug combinations by detecting biomarkers in tumor samples. Increasingly, doctors are using immunotherapy to enhance the body’s immune response against cancer. Unlike chemotherapy, which uses drugs to directly kill cancer cells, immunotherapy works by stimulating the body’s own immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. Successful alignment of molecular profiling with biomarkers predictive of immunotherapy response ensures improved patient stratification for immune-based treatments.
The financial burden for patients and health care systems is significant. Correct application of protocols such as next generation sequencing (NGS) address genetic variances before prescribing regimens which helps reduce the financial burden while increasing the efficacy of oncology medications. Efforts have been made to reduce adverse drug reactions and hospital readmissions in oncology care (Petry et al., 2019). By avoiding ineffective methods, healthcare systems are able to allocate resources more efficiently, avoiding unnecessary costs (Henderson et al., 2023).
A patient-centered approach to healthcare. Ultimately, precision oncology and biomarker tests play a crucial role in accelerating the benefits of genomic medicine for patients and healthcare professionals. The use of genomic data enables healthcare providers to devise more targeted treatment plans, improve patient outcomes, and lower costs.
Learn more about UGenome’s Personalized Medication Service, ProPEx, or contact UGenome. You can also find case studies for UGenome’s bioinformatics services Metabolite Identification, Bone Metastasis Risk Analysis in Breast Cancer, Survival Analysis with gene signatures in cancer
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