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Precision medicine: the precision gap in rheumatic disease
Chung M A Lin1, Faye A H Cooles1, John D Isaacs2,3
1Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Abstract:
For many oncological conditions, the application of timely and patient-tailored targeted therapies, or precision medicine, is a major therapeutic development that has provided considerable clinical benefit. However, despite the application of increasingly sophisticated technologies, alongside advanced bioinformatic and machine-learning algorithms, this success is yet to be replicated for the rheumatic diseases. In rheumatoid arthritis, for example, despite an array of targeted biologic and conventional therapeutics, treatment choice remains largely based on trial and error. The concept of the 'precision gap' for rheumatic disease can help us to identify factors that underpin the slow progress towards the discovery and adoption of precision-medicine approaches for rheumatic disease. In a rheumatic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, it is possible to identify four themes that have slowed progress, solutions to which should help to close the precision gap. These themes relate to our fundamental understanding of disease pathogenesis, how we determine treatment response, confounders of treatment outcomes and trial design.
Insights
Precision medicine offers tailored treatments for cancer but lags in rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Addressing challenges in pathogenesis understanding, treatment response, and trial design can close this
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology and Precision Medicine
- Translational Research in Autoimmune Diseases
Background:
- Precision medicine has revolutionized oncology with patient-tailored therapies.
- Rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, have not seen similar advances.
- Current rheumatoid arthritis treatment often relies on trial-and-error approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and define the 'precision gap' in rheumatic diseases.
- To identify key factors hindering precision medicine adoption in rheumatology.
- To propose solutions for accelerating precision medicine in rheumatic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of the 'precision gap' in rheumatic diseases.
- Identification of thematic barriers to precision medicine implementation.
- Review of current approaches in rheumatoid arthritis treatment and trial design.
Main Results:
- Four major themes impede progress in rheumatic disease precision medicine.
- These themes include understanding disease pathogenesis, assessing treatment response, confounding factors, and clinical trial design.
- Addressing these themes is crucial for closing the precision gap.
Conclusions:
- Significant challenges remain in translating precision medicine to rheumatic diseases.
- A multi-faceted approach addressing fundamental scientific and clinical hurdles is necessary.
- Closing the precision gap will enable more effective, personalized treatments for patients with rheumatic diseases.
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