Precision medicines could ‘revolutionise’ cancer treatment, preserving healthy cells by using individual biomarkers
Scientists hailed “encouraging” preliminary results of a clinical trial detailed at the world’s largest conference on cancer in Chicago.
Using a patient’s individual tumour biomarkers to determine the best cancer treatment can improve success rates, studies showed on Saturday. Unlike chemotherapy and radiation therapy, targeted medicine allows healthy cells to survive.
This approach, especially immunotherapy, which boosts the immune system to destroy tumour cells – is revolutionising oncology, according to the study released at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Scientists hailed “encouraging” preliminary results of a Phase 2 clinical trial detailed at the world’s largest conference on cancer meeting this weekend in Chicago.
Of the 129 participants, 29 patients with a total 12 kinds of advanced cancers responded well to molecules that have not been approved for treatment of these tumours by the Food and Drug Administration.
With genomic testing of tumours becoming increasingly available, studies such as ours will help more patients benefit from precision medicine approaches
Promising responses observed in four cancer types, including carrier-specific molecular alterations, have already helped widen the cohort of patients participating in this clinical trial, the researchers said.