Personalizing medicine for cancer: the next decade
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Strategy for Biobanking of Ovarian Cancer Organoids: Addressing the Interpatient Heterogeneity across Histological Subtypes and Disease Stages
Published on: February 23, 2024
Ernest C Borden1, Derek Raghavan
1Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. bordene@ccf.org
Abstract:
An important outcome of the focus on the human genome in the past decade has been the understanding that cancer is largely a disease of aberrant cell signalling. The development of drugs that target the results of genetic defects in selected patients with cancer has led to some important treatment advances, but there remain major challenges to realizing the full potential of genomic medicine in oncology.
Insights
Genomic medicine advances cancer treatment by targeting genetic defects and aberrant cell signaling. However, challenges remain in fully utilizing its potential in oncology.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genomics
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Cancer is increasingly understood as a disease driven by abnormal cell signaling pathways.
- Recent advancements focus on the human genome to understand cancer's molecular basis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the progress and challenges in applying genomic medicine to cancer treatment.
- To underscore the importance of targeting genetic defects in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Review of current research in genomic medicine and cancer signaling.
- Analysis of targeted therapies based on genetic defects.
Main Results:
- Targeted drugs have shown significant treatment advances in specific cancer patient groups.
- Understanding cancer as a cell signaling disease is a key outcome of genomic research.
Conclusions:
- Genomic medicine offers promising avenues for cancer therapy.
- Major challenges persist in fully realizing the potential of genomic medicine in oncology.
Related Concept Videos
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Cancer
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...

