While considerable progress has been made in the fight against cancer, it continues to cause grief and suffering across the world, as more and more people are diagnosed with cancers affecting different tissues and organs. Although significant advances have been made in cancer treatment, these therapies are effective in only a minority of patients.
The major challenge in oncology is that no two cancers are alike, even within the same tissue, complicating treatment responses and relapse rates. Tumor heterogeneity arises from the diversity of cell types within tumors and unique gene mutations in these cells, which influence cancer progression and treatment response. Additionally, the spatial organization of cancer cells and their interactions with neighboring cells shape the tumor microenvironment (TME). This spatial architecture impacts tumor development, metastasis, and drug efficacy, highlighting the complexity of each cancer case.
Many cancers contain cancer stem cells (CSCs) which are often resistant to chemotherapy, contributing to relapses despite aggressive treatments. Identifying these cells and specific gene mutations they may harbor is crucial for improving symptom management and treatment outcomes. Additionally, the lack of observable symptoms and reliable biomarkers in many cancers often leads to misjudged treatment efficacy. Personalized, or precision medicine addresses these challenges by analyzing the cellular, genetic, and molecular characteristics of tumors and customizing treatments to the unique features of the cancer and the patient’s genetic background, medical history, and lifestyle factors.
Source: https://www.elucidata.io/blog/beyond-one-size-fits-all-the-rise-of-personalized-medicine-for-oncology
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