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Basic cancer research is essential for the success of personalised medicine

Yosef Yarden1, Carlos Caldas, Carlos Caldes

  • 1Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel. Yosef.Yarden@weizmann.ac.il

European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|June 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Personalized cancer medicine relies on understanding genetic drivers. Continued investment in fundamental cancer research is crucial for addressing new diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and achieving future breakthroughs.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genetics
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Recent advances allow identification of individual tumor genetic drivers and development of targeted therapies.
  • Personalized cancer medicine is a recognized achievement of sustained cancer research funding.
  • Critics question the need for continued investment in fundamental research beyond clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To argue for the necessity of sustained investment in fundamental cancer research.
  • To highlight the new challenges in cancer diagnosis and treatment that require basic science investigation.
  • To emphasize the role of basic research in driving future cancer therapy advancements.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of current trends in cancer research and personalized medicine.
  • Expert opinion and argumentation from scientists within the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR).

Main Results:

  • New diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in cancer create complex challenges for fundamental research.
  • Basic scientific studies are essential for addressing these challenges and advancing cancer treatment.
  • Continued resource allocation to fundamental research is vital for future progress in conquering cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Fundamental cancer research remains indispensable despite advances in personalized medicine.
  • Investment in basic science is critical to overcome emerging challenges and unlock the next generation of cancer therapies.
  • Sustained support for diverse areas of cancer research is key to long-term success in oncology.
Keywords:
Cancer

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