We Support Funding for Molecular Oncology
Molecular oncology is the next evolution in personalized, comprehensive cancer treatment.
By collecting and analyzing key genetic information from tumors, our experts can match people with the most effective therapies and clinical trials. By repeating these tests regularly, information about treatment response is gathered to make care plan adjustments in real time. No two cancers or two patients are the same, and with molecular oncology, treatment is tailored to each person’s unique needs.
What Is Molecular Oncology?
Patients diagnosed with cancer routinely receive a molecular analysis of their disease. This includes genomic sequencing and other molecular studies performed on tissue from a biopsy or surgical sample. Patients also can undergo a “liquid biopsy,” which requires a simple blood draw to obtain the tumor’s genetic material, which is then sequenced and analyzed. This genetic material is the circulating tumor DNA—fragments of DNA shed by cancer cells. Existing tests currently analyze several hundred genes, giving doctors insights into the behavior and biology of each specific cancer.
A liquid biopsy is much less invasive than a traditional biopsy and can be performed multiple times during the course of treatment or disease monitoring with standard blood draws.
The Benefits of Molecular Oncology
By giving doctors a detailed, real-time profile of each tumor, molecular testing of the cancer provides these benefits:
highly personalized treatment plans targeted toward a patient’s specific tumor profile
the identification of mutations that may make the tumor sensitive to targeted therapies or other treatments
determining which clinical trials would be beneficial
more-accurate predictions of treatment response
guidance on how to overcome tumor resistance to certain therapies through effective subsequent treatments
The goal of Molecular Oncology is to empower patients with advanced care that improves treatment outcomes and quality of life.
Molecular Oncology for Ongoing Monitoring
Oncologists perform liquid biopsy repeatedly throughout treatment to better understand how tumors are responding and determine how this testing may complement and improve other forms of disease monitoring. Serial liquid biopsy testing may allow doctors to adjust care plans in near real time, as opposed to current methods, which are performed only at certain intervals during treatment.
Molecular oncology does not stop at the conclusion of a patient’s course of treatment—with posttreatment monitoring, recurrence may be detected far sooner than can be seen on a CAT scan or MRI. This monitoring may be associated with clinical trials aimed at earlier intervention based on the idea that the sooner a recurrence is detected, the more effective and personalized the treatment can be.
Testing Based on the Latest Research
The seamless connection between research and clinical care is accelerating work in molecular oncology.
Researchers are also studying the next generation of molecular oncology tests, which may give a more comprehensive view of the molecular landscape of individual tumors. This can provide doctors with valuable information about the nature of a tumor to improve patient care.