Replication Data for: Precision Oncology, Signaling Pathways Reprogramming and Targeted Therapy: A Holistic Approach to Molecular Cancer Therapeutics

Cancer is a fatal genetic disease involving unregulated cell growth and proliferation with varying underlying complexities including immune evasion, treatment resistance and recurrence, and optimized treatment is required for proper cure. Molecular studies have revealed that tumors are extremely heterogeneous in nature, leading to the complexity of cancer development, which is ultimately linked to its genetic machinery. It would require effective targeting of dysregulated molecular mechanisms involving growth factors, regulatory proteins, cell adhesion molecules, and molecules of immune system mainly driven by alterations in tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes that may vary among different cancer types. Importantly, patients with the same type of cancer respond differently to available cancer treatments, indicating the need for patient-specific treatment options. Thus, in-depth genomic studies of patients’ tumors are needed to fully understand the determinants of cancer initiation and progression for effective targeted therapy. Precision oncology has evolved as a form of cancer therapy focused on genetic profiling of tumors to identify molecular alterations involved in cancer manifestation for tailored individualized treatment of the disease. Accordingly, there have been great developments in the formulation and production of anticancer agents in recent years owing to advances in molecular technologies enabling precise targeting of oncogenic pathways involved in disease progression. This article aims to briefly explain the foundations and frontiers of precision oncology in the context of advancements in the tools and techniques associated with the process to assess its scope and importance in realizing the intended goals.

癌症是一类致命的遗传性疾病，其核心特征为细胞生长与增殖失控，背后潜藏的致病机制复杂多样，涵盖免疫逃逸、治疗耐药及肿瘤复发等，需优化治疗方案方可实现有效治愈。分子研究表明，肿瘤本质上具有高度异质性，这一特性加剧了癌症发生发展的复杂性，而这最终与其遗传调控机制密切相关。要实现有效治疗，需靶向调控一系列失调的分子机制，包括生长因子、调节蛋白、细胞黏附分子及免疫系统相关分子，此类调控多由抑癌基因与癌基因的变异驱动，且不同癌症类型中的此类变异存在差异。值得注意的是，同一癌症类型的患者对现有抗癌疗法的响应各不相同，这凸显了开发个体化治疗方案的必要性。因此，需对患者肿瘤开展深入的基因组学研究，以全面阐明癌症起始与进展的决定因素，从而实现有效的靶向治疗。精准肿瘤学（precision oncology）已发展为一种癌症治疗模式，其核心是对肿瘤进行基因谱分析，以识别参与癌症发生的分子改变，进而为患者制定定制化的个体化治疗方案。近年来，得益于分子技术的进步，实现了对疾病进展相关致癌通路的精准靶向，抗癌药物的研发与生产也取得了长足进展。本文旨在结合该领域相关工具与技术的进展，简要阐述精准肿瘤学的基础与前沿方向，评估其在达成既定治疗目标中的应用前景与重要价值。