Precision Oncology, Signaling and Cancer Therapeutics

Cancer is a fatal genetic disease with different aspects of complexity, including cancer immune evasion, treatment resistance and recurrence, requiring optimized treatment for proper cure. Molecular studies have revealed that tumors are hugely heterogeneous in nature, leading to the complexity of cancer progression that is ultimately linked to its genetic machinery. In recent decades, there has been a deluge in the large-scale production of anticancer agents, primarily due to advances in genomic technologies enabling precise targeting of oncogenic pathways involved in disease development. It is important to note that patients with the same types of cancer respond differently to cancer treatments, indicating the need for patient-specific treatment options. An in-depth genomic study of tumors will be needed to fully understand the driving factors of cancer initiation and progression for effective targeted therapy. Precision oncology has evolved as a form of cancer therapy focused on genetic profiling of patients’ tumors to identify molecular alterations involved in cancer manifestation for tailored individualized treatment of the disease. This article aims to briefly explain the foundations and frontiers of precision oncology and review the tools and techniques involved in the process to assess its scope and importance in achieving effective cures against cancer.