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Updated: Dec 30, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Early Detection and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors
Published on: February 16, 2024
Precision medicine for gastrointestinal cancer: Recent progress and future perspective
Tasuku Matsuoka1, Masakazu Yashiro1
1Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 5458585, Japan.
Abstract:
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer has a high tumor incidence and mortality rate worldwide. Despite significant improvements in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy for GI cancer over the last decade, GI cancer is characterized by high recurrence rates and a dismal prognosis. There is an urgent need for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Recent technological advances and the accumulation of clinical data are moving toward the use of precision medicine in GI cancer. Here we review the application and status of precision medicine in GI cancer. Analyses of liquid biopsy specimens provide comprehensive real-time data of the tumor-associated changes in an individual GI cancer patient with malignancy. With the introduction of gene panels including next-generation sequencing, it has become possible to identify a variety of mutations and genetic biomarkers in GI cancer. Although the genomic aberration of GI cancer is apparently less actionable compared to other solid tumors, novel informative analyses derived from comprehensive gene profiling may lead to the discovery of precise molecular targeted drugs. These progressions will make it feasible to incorporate clinical, genome-based, and phenotype-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and apply them to individual GI cancer patients for precision medicine.
Insights
Precision medicine offers new hope for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients. Analyzing liquid biopsies and using next-generation sequencing can identify mutations for targeted therapies, improving outcomes for this challenging disease.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genomics
- Translational Medicine
Background:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer presents high incidence and mortality globally.
- Despite advances in conventional treatments, GI cancer shows high recurrence and poor prognosis.
- There is a critical need for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current status and application of precision medicine in GI cancer.
- To highlight the role of advanced molecular analyses in personalized treatment approaches.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of liquid biopsy specimens for real-time tumor-associated changes.
- Utilizing gene panels and next-generation sequencing for comprehensive genomic profiling.
- Integrating clinical, genomic, and phenotypic data for tailored patient management.
Main Results:
- Liquid biopsies provide comprehensive, real-time molecular data for individual GI cancer patients.
- Next-generation sequencing identifies diverse mutations and genetic biomarkers in GI cancer.
- Genomic profiling, while less actionable than in other tumors, can guide the discovery of targeted drugs.
Conclusions:
- Precision medicine, driven by liquid biopsies and genomic analysis, is advancing GI cancer care.
- Comprehensive molecular profiling holds potential for discovering novel targeted therapies.
- Integrating multi-omics data enables personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for GI cancer patients.
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