A new approach to cancer diagnosis and treatment is revolutionizing how the disease is addressed. This approach combines the study of tumor biology with the individual characteristics of each patient, transforming the way cancer is diagnosed, treated, and monitored. The identification of biomarkers has become an essential tool for personalizing lung cancer treatment.
Equitable access to precision medicine remains a global challenge. Precision medicine not only facilitates early diagnosis but also continuous monitoring of treatment without the need for invasive procedures, improving the patient experience. Contributing to the success of these therapeutic strategies, specialized molecular laboratories have been developed with advanced technology to analyze biological samples and obtain molecular and genetic profiles for more accurate diagnoses.
Each year, new oncology medications are presented to the main health authorities worldwide for evaluation and approval. According to estimates from the pharmaceutical industry, treating the patient with the best available targeted therapy from the start can improve disease control, increase treatment efficacy, and patient survival.
The detection of biomarkers can be done through tumor tissue biopsies or liquid biopsies, which analyze circulating tumor DNA in the blood. These techniques allow for faster and less invasive detection, as well as monitoring treatment response and disease progression.
Precision medicine has changed the paradigm of oncology by allowing targeted treatments according to the individual genetic mutations of each patient, making treatments more effective and less invasive. Currently, specific mutations in tumor DNA can be identified and targeted therapies designed to counteract them, significantly improving treatment effectiveness and the quality of life of patients.
On World Cancer Day, commemorated on February 4, specialists highlight the importance of the therapeutic advancements achieved, among them precision medicine. Biomarkers, such as mutations in the EGFR gene or ALK and ROS-1 rearrangements, are crucial for determining the course of treatment, demonstrating the positive impact that precision medicine is having in the fight against cancer.
