A decision support framework for genomically informed investigational cancer therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genomics
• Personalized Medicine

Background:

• Advances in molecular oncology and next-generation sequencing enable personalized cancer therapy.
• Interpreting a patient's molecular profile, including tumor and germline DNA, is essential for genomically informed treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review data and tools for precision oncology.
• To present a framework for evaluating the therapeutic implications of genomic alterations.
• To highlight the need for updated knowledge bases and clinician education.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing data and tools in precision oncology.
• Framework development for literature review on genomic alterations and therapeutic implications.
• Curation of genomic alterations to distinguish drivers from passengers.

Main Results:

• Few genomic alterations currently have strong evidence linking them to specific therapies and cancer types.
• Clinical data for many genomic alterations are insufficient for routine biomarker-based therapy.
• There is significant interest in matching patients to early-phase clinical trials based on genomic profiles.

Conclusions:

• Accessible, comprehensive, and updated knowledge bases are needed to support genomically informed cancer therapy.
• Continued education for clinicians and patients is vital for the successful implementation of precision oncology.
• Distinguishing actionable genomic alterations requires careful curation and evaluation of evidence.