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Tailored treatment is redefining cancer care, offering the promise of enhanced effectiveness, reduced side effects, and a more compassionate approach to a complex illness
Chemotherapy has been a fundamental part of treatment, aiming to target rapidly dividing cancer cells
In the early 1990s, less advanced technology and fewer available medicines for cancer meant patients were usually treated using a standardised combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy based on the stage of cancer.
Chemotherapy has been a fundamental part of treatment, aiming to target rapidly dividing cancer cells. However, more personalised treatment options have emerged with advancements in technology revolutionising the treatment approach. These therapies, tailored to an individual’s genetic profile and expression of certain biological and unique biomarkers, enable oncologists to choose treatments deemed effective and less toxic based on these unique molecular markers specific to each person’s cancer. Dr. Ashok Kumar Vaid, Chairman, Medical Oncology, Cancer Care, Medanta, Gurugram shares all you need to know.
This shift has improved outcomes and minimised side effects by allowing treatments to be more precise and targeted. With India facing an increasing burden of cancer—evident in the more than 14.1 lakh new cancer cases and over 9.1 lakh deaths reported in 2022, as per the World Health Organization (WHO)—personalised treatment approaches can be pivotal. Breast cancer, being the most common type, highlights the need for tailored therapies that can significantly enhance care and improve patient outcomes across the country.
What is personalised cancer treatment?
Personalised treatment, also known as precision medicine, is a healthcare approach that tailors disease prevention and treatment to a patient’s specific genes, environment, lifestyle, and tumour-specific biological characteristics. This allows healthcare providers to offer and arrange personalised care for their patients based on the individual genes, proteins, and other substances in their bodies. Doctors use data from specific lab tests to develop a plan of care, which typically includes specific recommendations. In some cases, it can help in making a more precise diagnosis and enhance treatment.
Process of personalised cancer treatment
The first step in personalised cancer treatment is to run a detailed test, and common amongst them being Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). This test can be done on a tissue sample from a biopsy, or if a biopsy is not available, a blood sample can be used instead. These tests look at the tumour’s DNA, RNA, or proteins to identify specific characteristics. It’s important to choose the right test that provides quick results and is cost-effective. Once the test results are ready, a team of specialists reviews them to decide on the best treatment options. This might include targeted therapies that focus on specific changes found in the cancer, making treatment more effective and reducing side effects. For example, if certain gene changes are found, treatments that specifically attack those changes may be recommended. In some cases, immunotherapy, which boosts the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, could also be an option.
Personalised treatment can also help identify if someone is at a higher risk of developing cancer. If so, lifestyle changes, or regular screening tests might be recommended to lower their risk and catch potential cancers early.
Advantages of personalised cancer treatment
The benefits of personalised cancer treatment go beyond effectiveness. Personalised medicine, which focuses on treatments that target cancer at its molecular root, frequently has less adverse effects than standard chemotherapy. Targeted medicines and immunotherapies, though unique, have a more focused action and cause less collateral damage to healthy cells. Patients receiving tailored therapy may also have fewer hospital visits, quicker recovery times, and a higher quality of life. Moreover, tailored techniques are being employed to detect and prevent cancer in high-risk patients.
Tailored treatment is redefining cancer care, offering the promise of enhanced effectiveness, reduced side effects, and a more compassionate approach to a complex illness. With each new breakthrough, we progress toward a future where cancer therapy is characterised not by a “one-size-fits-all” model but by a highly personalised method that caters to the distinct cancer journey of each patient. Although there are still obstacles to overcome, the potential for increased survival rates and better quality of life for those with cancer is revolutionary, providing optimism for a time when cancer care is as individual as those confronting the illness.
