Stratified medicine for cancer therapy

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Published on: April 20, 2018

Emily C Shaw1, Peter W M Johnson

  • 1Cancer Research UK, London, UK.

Drug Discovery Today
|April 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Understanding cancer

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Malignant transformation involves complex biological processes.
  • Similar diseases can be reclassified based on disrupted pathways.
  • Key genetic changes in cancers map to a few core pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To classify tumors by aberrant biological pathways.
  • To identify druggable targets within these pathways.
  • To advance stratified cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of genetic changes in tumors.
  • Mapping genetic alterations to biological pathways.
  • Identification of therapeutic targets within disrupted networks.

Main Results:

  • Cancers can be classified by their specific pathway disruptions.
  • Druggable targets are identifiable within these pathways.
  • A stratified approach enables personalized treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Stratified cancer therapy improves treatment effectiveness.
  • This approach enhances tolerability and affordability of novel agents.
  • Understanding disrupted pathways is key to targeted cancer treatment.

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