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Host-dependent variables: The missing link to personalized medicine

Regina Demlova1, Lenka Zdrazilova-Dubska2, Jaroslav Sterba3

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Czech Republic; Regional Centre for Applied Molecular Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Czech Republic; Clinical Trial Unit, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Czech Republic.

European Journal of Surgical Oncology : the Journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology
|May 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Individualized medicine aims to personalize cancer treatment for better patient outcomes. Current clinical trials focus on group averages, but future research should embrace patient individuality and unique variables for more effective anticancer therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Precision Medicine
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Individualized medicine offers tailored anticancer therapies for improved patient care and safety.
  • Current targeted therapies are evaluated in clinical trials using group averages, potentially overlooking individual patient responses.
  • Malignant disease necessitates understanding host- and tumor-dependent variables, including tumor biology, microenvironment, immune response, and host capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To advocate for a shift in clinical trial design and medical oncology practices.
  • To emphasize the importance of patient individuality over group averages in cancer treatment.
  • To highlight the need to consider time-dependent host characteristics and outliers in determining treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current practices in targeted anticancer therapy and clinical trial design.
  • Analysis of factors influencing treatment response and safety in cancer patients.
  • Conceptual framework for incorporating individual patient variables into oncology research.

Main Results:

  • Group average assessments in clinical trials may not fully capture the efficacy of targeted therapies for all patients.
  • Host- and tumor-dependent variables significantly influence treatment outcomes.
  • Outliers and time-dependent host characteristics are crucial, naturally occurring variables in cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Medical oncology and clinical trial design must evolve to focus on individual patient characteristics.
  • Appreciating patient individuality and unique biological variables is key to optimizing anticancer therapy.
  • A paradigm shift towards personalized assessment is necessary for advancing cancer care and improving patient outcomes.
Keywords:
CancerImmunobiologyPersonalized medicinePharmacogeneticsTargeted therapyTumour microenvironment

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