Dataset Information

The combinatorial complexity of cancer precision medicine.

ABSTRACT: Precision medicine approaches have recently been developed that offer therapies targeting mainly single genetic alterations in malignant tumors. However, next generation sequencing studies have shown that tumors normally harbor multiple genetic alterations, which could explain the so far limited successes of personalized medicine, despite considerable benefits in certain cases. Combination therapies may contribute to a solution, but will pose a major challenge for clinical trials evaluating those therapies. As we discuss here, reasons include the low abundance of most of the relevant mutations and particularly the combinatorial complexity of possible combination therapies. Our report provides a systematic and quantitative account of the implications of combinatorial complexity for cancer precision medicine and clinical trial design. We also present an outlook on how systems biological approaches may be harnessed to contribute to a solution of the complexity challenge by predicting optimal combination therapies for individual patients and how clinical trial design may be adapted by combining and extending basket and umbrella design features.

SUBMITTER: Klauschen F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4278319 | biostudies-other | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The combinatorial complexity of cancer precision medicine.

Klauschen Frederick F Andreeff Michael M Keilholz Ulrich U Dietel Manfred M Stenzinger Albrecht A

Oncoscience 20140723 7

Precision medicine approaches have recently been developed that offer therapies targeting mainly single genetic alterations in malignant tumors. However, next generation sequencing studies have shown that tumors normally harbor multiple genetic alterations, which could explain the so far limited successes of personalized medicine, despite considerable benefits in certain cases. Combination therapies may contribute to a solution, but will pose a major challenge for clinical trials evaluating thos ...[more]

PMID: 25594052

Similar Datasets

Project description:Gastric cancer (GC) is a complex disease linked to a series of environmental factors and unhealthy lifestyle habits, and especially to genetic alterations. GC represents the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Its onset is subtle, and the majority of patients are diagnosed once the cancer is already advanced. In recent years, there have been innovations in the management of advanced GC including the introduction of new classifications based on its molecular characteristics. Thanks to new technologies such as next-generation sequencing and microarray, the Cancer Genome Atlas and Asian Cancer Research Group classifications have also paved the way for precision medicine in GC, making it possible to integrate diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Among the objectives of the subdivision of GC into subtypes is to select patients in whom molecular targeted drugs can achieve the best results; many lines of research have been initiated to this end. After phase III clinical trials, trastuzumab, anti-Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (commonly known as ERBB2) and ramucirumab, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (commonly known as VEGFR2) monoclonal antibodies, were approved and introduced into first- and second-line therapies for patients with advanced/metastatic GC. However, the heterogeneity of this neoplasia makes the practical application of such approaches difficult. Unfortunately, scientific progress has not been matched by progress in clinical practice in terms of significant improvements in prognosis. Survival continues to be low in contrast to the reduction in deaths from many common cancers such as colorectal, lung, breast, and prostate cancers. Although several target molecules have been identified on which targeted drugs can act and novel products have been introduced into experimental therapeutic protocols, the overall approach to treating advanced stage GC has not substantially changed. Currently, surgical resection with adjuvant or neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the most effective treatments for this disease. Future research should not underestimate the heterogeneity of GC when developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies aimed toward improving patient survival.

Dataset Information

The combinatorial complexity of cancer precision medicine.

Publications

The combinatorial complexity of cancer precision medicine.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets