Delivering precision oncology to patients with cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genomics
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Precision oncology is transforming cancer diagnosis and treatment through genomic profiling.
• A significant challenge exists where advanced diagnostics are inaccessible to many patients, hindering the reach of targeted therapies.
• This disparity creates a paradox in drug development, potentially leading to therapies for a limited patient population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the major challenges in implementing precision oncology globally.
• To discuss critical steps for resolving these implementation barriers.
• To advocate for a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure equitable access and benefit from precision oncology advances.

Main Methods:

• This perspective outlines challenges and solutions based on current trends in precision oncology.
• It synthesizes information on genomic testing access, clinical trial design, physician education, and patient engagement.
• The approach involves critical analysis of the healthcare delivery system for precision medicine.

Main Results:

• Key challenges include unequal access to genomic tests, insufficient evidence from clinical studies for new drugs, inadequate physician training in genomics interpretation, and limited patient involvement in decision-making.
• Resolving these requires facilitating equal access to genomics tests and ensuring robust evidence generation.
• Physician education and patient empowerment are vital for shared decision-making.

Conclusions:

• Translating precision oncology advances into global patient benefits necessitates a coordinated, multi-stakeholder effort.
• Addressing disparities in genomic testing access is paramount.
• Improving evidence generation, value assessment, and healthcare delivery systems are essential for equitable precision cancer care worldwide.