Precision Medicine in Oncology® | Specialty

The OncLive Precision Medicine in Oncology® condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and expert insights on precision-focused approaches in patients with cancer, with gene-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-drug conjugates, checkpoint inhibitors, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy, and other tailored treatments. This page features news articles, interviews in written and video format, and podcasts that focus on updates and ongoing research with personalized therapies across solid and hematologic tumors.

Integrating Genetics and Genomics in GYN Patient Navigation

July 11th 2013

Cancer centers are beginning to establish oncology nurse navigator programs with integrated processes for assessment, identification, referral, education, care, and support for patients whose gynecologic cancers may be genetically-based.

Retrospective Analysis Confirms Poor Prognosis for Breast Cancer Patients With BRCA1 Mutations

July 11th 2013

Women with breast cancer who are carriers of BRCA1 mutations have increased mortality compared with noncarriers, according to a retrospective study carried out in the Netherlands.

Dr. Lenz Explores KRAS/NRAS Mutations in Colorectal Cancer

July 6th 2013

Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, from the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the potential predictive impact of KRAS and NRAS mutations in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Big Moment for Nanotech: Oncology Therapeutics Poised for a Leap

July 2nd 2013

The translation of scientific advances in nanotechnology into cancer therapies, in vitro assays, and imaging tools is poised for takeoff, amid fresh excitement among investors and a mushrooming of findings from leading research institutions.

PARP Inhibitor Active in Recurrent BRCA-Mutant Ovarian Cancer

June 28th 2013

A dual-action PARP inhibitor has shown sufficient clinical activity to continue its investigation in women with recurrent BRCA-mutant ovarian cancer.

The Inflammation Link: NF-ÎºB Remains a Difficult but Intriguing Target

June 28th 2013

The complex regulation of NF-ÎºB activation has presented significant challenges for the development of anticancer agents, but researchers are now beginning to better understand and embrace this complexity to drive development of a variety of novel NF-ÎºB-targeting strategies.

Dr. Seidman on Personalized and Precision Medicine

June 28th 2013

Andrew D. Seidman, MD, from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, describes his excitement over the genetic advances made in the treatment of patients with cancer.

Julian Adams on the IPI-145 Mechanism of Action

June 26th 2013

Julian Adams, PhD, from Infinity Pharmaceuticals, describes the mechanism of action for the experimental PI3 kinase delta/gamma inhibitor IPI-145 in hematologic malignancies.

Genomic Alterations Characterized in Squamous Cell Cancers of the Head and Neck

June 26th 2013

Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck have different patterns of genetic alterations, some of which may be actionable or druggable with available agents or drugs in development.

Ellen Matloff on the Supreme Court Gene Patenting Decision

June 25th 2013

Ellen T. Matloff, MS, CGC, from the Yale School of Medicine/Yale Cancer Center, describes the impact of the US Supreme Court decision to restrict the patenting of segments of DNA in isolation.

Project Aims to "Bridge the Gap" From Remission to Cure in Multiple Myeloma

June 21st 2013

In an interview with OncologyLive, Brian G.M. Durie, MD, provided details about the Black Swan initiative and how he expects the project to develop.

Supreme Court Limits Ability to Patent Genes in Landmark Decision

June 13th 2013

After years of varying decisions by lower courts regarding the patents held on a test for genetic mutations associated with breast cancer, the US Supreme Court has ruled that a segment of DNA in isolation is a natural product and not eligible for patent protection.

Dr. Saenger on Combining Targeted and Immune Agents

June 12th 2013

Yvonne M. Saenger, MD, Assistant Professor in Medicine and Dermatology, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, discusses the idea of combining targeted and immune agents.

Charting the Course in Myeloma: Durie Keeps Standards, New Goals in Sight

June 10th 2013

As one of the world's top multiple myeloma physicians and researchers, Brian G.M. Durie, MD, can boil his mission down to one simple goal: saving lives. But it was two people the doctor couldn't save who have most affected his path.

BRCA1/2 Linked to Poor Prognosis in Prostate Cancer

June 7th 2013

A new study suggests that germline mutations of BRCA1/2 could play a significant role in more-aggressive cases of prostate cancer. Additionally, BRCA2 mutations were specifically linked to poor overall survival.

Revisiting HER2: Recent Research Shakes Views on Famed Marker

June 5th 2013

New research suggests that HER2-targeted drugs may actually have much broader applications, benefiting patients who are not designated HER2-positive by routine testing.

ASCO Opens 49th Annual Meeting Urging More Federal Funding for Research

June 1st 2013

The American Society of Clinical Oncology kicked off its 49th Annual Meeting with leaders urging all stakeholders in cancer care to vigorously oppose cuts to vital US biomedical research funding.

Cracking the Code: Privacy, Consent Are Concerns in Gene Studies

May 30th 2013

The security of genetic data collected from research study participants has emerged as a concern after investigators proved they could ferret out individual identities from large databases.

Translating Combination Radiotherapy/Immunotherapy From Dogs to Humans With Advanced Melanoma or Sarcoma

May 29th 2013

Arta Monjazeb, MD, and Michael Kent, DVM, from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, describe an early phase trial exploring the potential of translating successful treatment from dogs to humans with advanced melanoma or sarcoma.

Genetic Experts' Views Shift on Testing, Prophylactic Surgery

May 28th 2013

The decision about whether to get tested for a genetic mutation that may predispose a person to certain cancers is a difficult one for many patients to make. Even more difficult for mutation carriers is deciding whether to undergo a prophylactic surgical procedure.