How Do You Use Precision Medicine in Cancer?
Depending on the genetic make-up and protein expression of the cancer, diagnosis and treatment plans are made. For example, in breast cancer, depending on the expression of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) receptors, and HER2 protein on the cancer cells, the treatment of the cancer subtype is adjusted. If the cancer is ER/PR positive, hormonal therapy is used along with chemotherapy. If it is HER2 overexpressed, targeted therapy like Trastuzumab is used.
In Which Cancers is Precision Medicine Used?
Precision medicine is being developed and explored in almost all cancers. To name a few, it is available in breast, lung, stomach, colon, pancreatic, ovarian, prostate cancers, etc.
What Are the Possible Benefits of Precision Medicine?
Since treatment is planned based on specific cancer markers, therapeutic agents act specifically on the cancer cells. This type of treatment is also known as targeted therapy. Therefore, the efficacy of the treatment is increased with fewer side effects, as the treatment targets only cancer cells.
What Are the Possible Side Effects with Precision Medicine?
Side effects associated with precision medicine depend on the targeted therapy used. As these therapies act specifically on cancer cells, side effects are expected to be lower than those from systemic chemotherapy and can be managed easily. For example, Trastuzumab does not have the chemotherapeutic side effects like nausea, vomiting, hair loss, or cytopenias, but it may have class-specific side effects that can affect the heart in rare cases.
