Despite incredible strides taken in cancer medicine over past decades, many patients endure a prolonged journey of trial and error, searching for the treatment that fits their unique needs. Cancer researchers now shift their focus to precision oncology. This method delves into the intricate details of each patient’s cancer, uncovering specific mutations and molecular mechanisms. The goal is to develop personalized, tailored treatments, ensuring that the right drugs are given at the right time.
Cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary approach allows synergies between the researchers, and more efficient use of resources.
“The direct challenge is the fact that cancers are heterogenous, and the metastatic tumour often has a different molecular profile to the original,” says Beck Schimmer. This means that each tumour is like a rare disease, making it hard to stratify patients for clinical trials or for treatment.
“The indirect challenges include the legal, ethical and security issues with the vast quantities of data, along with the costs,” she adds. “We can’t change the indirect challenges, but we can support the research.”
Lynch Syndrome Ireland 