EPMA position paper in cancer: current overview and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Personalized Medicine
• Cancer Prevention and Screening

Background:

• Cancer treatment is undergoing a paradigm shift towards predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM).
• PPPM emphasizes increased patient participation in healthcare decisions.
• Advancements in PPPM necessitate improved coordination among healthcare professionals and harmonized guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on cancer predisposition, risk factors, and cellular biology.
• To discuss advancements in predictive markers, diagnostic technologies, and drug development for personalized medicine.
• To highlight strategies for implementing personalized cancer care, including risk identification and early screening.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on cancer predisposition, risk factors, and cellular biology.
• Analysis of current technologies in cancer screening and diagnosis.
• Discussion of predictive markers, treatment outcomes, and drug development solutions in the context of personalized medicine.

Main Results:

• Identification of major risk factors is crucial for effective cancer prevention strategies.
• Well-defined cancer predisposing syndromes, particularly monogenic subtypes, require focused implementation strategies for risk identification.
• Challenges in implementing personalized medicine include data misuse and the need for robust data protection measures.

Conclusions:

• Personalized medicine offers improved cancer management and quality of life through earlier detection and tailored treatments.
• Effective implementation requires addressing challenges in data management, healthcare professional coordination, and cost-benefit analyses for population screening.
• Focusing on identifying individuals at risk through genetic predisposition and risk factors is essential for preventive measures and early intervention.