Precision oncology: as much expectations as limitations

Ecancermedicalscience. 2018 Nov 29:12:ed86. doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2018.ed86. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

It is encouraging to witness the recent price reduction and expanded access to next generation sequencing platforms, the increasing number of investments and publications on new targets and respective targeted drugs, as well as the worldwide excitement with anti-cancer personalised therapies. This editorial aims to highlight the limitations regarding the small proportion of solid cancers potentially eligible for the use of molecular-based targeted drugs until now. It also covers the expected clinical benefits in refractory patients treated by matched therapies, and detailed cost-effectiveness analysis of the use of DNA sequencing analysis oncology practice in an academic and large-scale community.

Keywords: DNA; molecular diagnostic techniques; molecular targeted therapy; precision medicine; sequence analysis.

Publication types

  • Editorial