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Functional precision oncology: Testing tumors with drugs to identify vulnerabilities and novel combinations
Anthony Letai1, Patrick Bhola2, Alana L Welm3
1Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Abstract:
Functional precision medicine is a strategy whereby live tumor cells from affected individuals are directly perturbed with drugs to provide immediately translatable, personalized information to guide therapy. The heterogeneity of human cancer has led to the realization that personalized approaches are needed to improve treatment outcomes. Precision oncology has traditionally used static features of the tumor to dictate which therapies should be used. Static features can include expression of key targets or genomic analysis of mutations to identify therapeutically targetable "drivers." Although a surprisingly small proportion of individuals derive clinical benefit from the static approach, functional precision medicine can provide additional information regarding tumor vulnerabilities. We discuss emerging technologies for functional precision medicine as well as limitations and challenges in using these assays in the clinical trials that will be necessary to determine whether functional precision medicine can improve outcomes and eventually become a standard tool in clinical oncology.
Insights
Functional precision medicine uses live tumor cells to test drugs, offering personalized insights for cancer therapy. This approach aims to overcome limitations of traditional methods by revealing tumor vulnerabilities for improved treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Translational Medicine
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Human cancer is heterogeneous, necessitating personalized treatment approaches.
- Traditional precision oncology relies on static tumor features (genomics, target expression) with limited clinical benefit.
- Functional precision medicine offers a dynamic alternative to identify tumor vulnerabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore emerging technologies in functional precision medicine.
- To discuss the challenges and limitations of implementing functional precision medicine in clinical settings.
- To highlight the need for clinical trials to validate functional precision medicine's impact on patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Directly perturbing live tumor cells with various drugs.
- Analyzing the response of tumor cells to therapeutic agents.
- Evaluating emerging technologies for functional assays.
Main Results:
- Functional precision medicine provides personalized, actionable information beyond static tumor analysis.
- This approach has the potential to reveal previously unidentified tumor vulnerabilities.
- Emerging technologies show promise for enhancing functional precision medicine capabilities.
Conclusions:
- Functional precision medicine represents a promising strategy to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
- Further clinical trials are essential to establish its efficacy and integration into standard oncology practice.
- Overcoming current limitations is key to realizing the full potential of functional precision medicine.
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