'Personalized medicine': what's in a name?

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biosciences
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Genomics and molecular biosciences have introduced new capabilities in medicine.
• Terms like 'precision medicine' and 'personalized medicine' are commonly associated with these advancements.
• These fields are perceived by many to have the potential to revolutionize healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the origins and definitions of terms such as precision, personalized, individualized, and stratified medicine.
• To discuss the impact of new molecular technologies on disease classification, prevention, and management.
• To evaluate whether these advancements represent a new paradigm in medical care.

Main Methods:

• Literature review to analyze the emergence and definitions of key terminologies.
• Discussion of the influence of molecular biosciences on medical practices.
• Analysis of the sociopolitical context surrounding new healthcare technologies.

Main Results:

• Genomics and molecular biosciences significantly enhance medical capabilities.
• These fields provide a modern toolkit for targeted health and disease management.
• The application of these tools occurs within evolving sociopolitical landscapes.

Conclusions:

• While genomics and molecular biosciences greatly advance medicine, they do not constitute a fundamentally new medical paradigm.
• The primary innovation lies in the enhanced toolkit for targeted approaches to health.
• The sociopolitical context is crucial in the application of these advanced medical technologies.