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.

Dr. Fausel on the Evolution of Genomic Testing in Cancer Care

April 21st 2022

Christopher A. Fausel, PharmD, MHA, BCOP, discusses how genetic sequencing has played a growing role in cancer care.

Targeted Treatment Boom Reshapes Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Landscape

April 18th 2022

Marcia S. Brose, MD, PhD, FASCO, and a panel of thyroid cancer experts share their insights into the evolving treatment landscape, including the use of VEGF receptor inhibitors and some of the precision medicine treatments now identified for molecularly selected subsets of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, such as BRAF, RET, and TRK inhibitors.

Two Fellows Use Online Resources to Boost Genetic Testing

April 16th 2022

Widespread germline testing in the United States could prevent cancer in hundreds of thousands of people. However, despite known benefits, uptake for genetic testing has been slow: only 1 in 5 individuals use recommended genetic services even when there is a significant family history of colorectal, breast, or ovarian cancer.

Selpercatinib Continues to Provide Clinically Meaningful Benefit in Advanced RET Fusion–Positive NSCLC

April 2nd 2022

Selpercatinib continued to provide clinically meaningful benefit to patients with metastatic RET fusion–positive non–small cell lung cancer.

FDA Approves Companion Diagnostic for Olaparib in Early Breast Cancer

March 14th 2022

The FDA has approved the BRACAnalysis CDx assay for use as a companion diagnostic to select patients with germline BRCA-mutated, HER2-negative, high-risk early breast cancer who may derive clinical benefit from treatment with olaparib.

Precision Genomics Moves Toward Increased Granularity in Molecular Sequencing

March 10th 2022

Kelvin P. Lee, MD, discusses the nuances of an effective molecular tumor board, explains the practical application of precision oncology genomics, and highlights the pathways that have the potential to change the treatment landscape for precision oncology.

European Approval Sought for Ivosidenib in IDH1-Mutated AML and Cholangiocarcinoma

March 10th 2022

A marketing authorization application has been submitted to the European Medicines Agency for 2 indications of ivosidenib: in combination with azacitidine in the frontline treatment of patients with IDH1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia who are not candidates for intensive chemotherapy and in previously treated patients with locally advanced or metastatic IDH1-mutated cholangiocarcinoma.

Investigators Push to Leverage Liquid Biopsy As New Standard in Early Detection, Prognosis of Hematologic Malignancies

March 3rd 2022

Leveraging the advances made with liquid biopsies in pantumor assays and specific hematologic cancers has laid the groundwork for the shift in care by using single, or multifaceted approaches for identifying, predicting, and monitoring disease progression.

Efforts to Target NRG1 Unlock New Pathways for Treatment

March 1st 2022

Early data have demonstrated poor outcomes for patients with NRG1 fusions, and limited efficacy with available treatments represents a need for the development of novel therapeutic agents.

Investigators Tackle the Untapped Potential of Personalized Medicine

February 26th 2022

Improving patient outcomes is top of mind for investigators at John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Dr. Basu Roy on the Challenges of Interpreting Molecular Testing Results in Lung Cancer

February 8th 2022

Upal Basu Roy, PhD, MPH, discusses the challenges of interpreting molecular testing results in lung cancer.

Serious Concerns Cloud Potential Benefit of Liquid Biopsy in Cancer Screening

February 3rd 2022

Maurie Markman, MD, explains the concerns surrounding liquid biopsies in cancer screening, and why regulatory agencies should be cautious and not approve any proposed molecularly based cancer diagnostic screening strategy until the tool is shown to effect cancer-specific survival compared with a control population not undergoing such testing.

Making Progress Against the Blood-Brain Barrier

January 31st 2022

Primary and metastatic brain tumors present a significant therapeutic challenge, in large part because they are protected by the blood-brain barrier, a highly restrictive interface between the bloodstream and the brain that prevents most drugs from accessing the brain parenchyma.

Lorlatinib Approved in Europe for ALK+ Advanced NSCLC

January 28th 2022

The European Commission has granted a marketing authorization for lorlatinib for use as a single agent in the treatment of adult patients with ALK-positive advanced non–small cell lung cancer who did not receive a prior ALK inhibitor.

Next Steps for KRAS Inhibitors Focus on Tackling Resistance

January 17th 2022

The recent approval of sotorasib for the treatment of patients with advanced KRAS G12C–mutant non–small cell lung cancer marks a milestone for cancer therapy.

Targeting CD166 Represents a New Avenue of Attack for Breast Cancer

January 12th 2022

High expression of activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule, also known as CD166, occurs in approximately 50% of patients with triple-negative breast cancer and up to 80% of patients with estrogen receptor– positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Aggarwal Shines a Light on Precision Medicine in Lung, Breast, Ovarian, and GI Cancers

January 6th 2022

Molecular testing is an established and essential precursor to treatment for patients with non–small cell lung cancer based on the volume of actionable targets, such as EGFR and KRAS G12C mutations, as well as PD-L1 status.

New Players Join Quest for a Therapeutic Foothold Against TGFβ

January 3rd 2022

Bintrafusp Alfa, a novel fusion protein designed to target the transforming growth factor beta pathway, racked up 3 clinical trial disappointments in less than a year, leaving the future of its development in question.

FDA Greenlights Companion Diagnostic for BRAF Inhibitors in Melanoma

December 8th 2021

The FDA has approved FoundationOne CDx for use as a companion diagnostic for 2 groups of current a future regulatory-approved treatments in melanoma, including single-agent BRAF inhibitors targeting BRAF V600E mutations and BRAF/MEK combination regimens targeting BRAF V600E or V600K mutations.

UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Pushes Liquid Biopsy Research Forward

November 30th 2021

The use of a routine blood test to assess and monitor patients with cancer, especially in a longitudinal manner, has long been the holy grail of cancer research.