Future Perspective
In the next decade, we expect clinical approval of major molecular profiling and imaging technologies for cancer diagnosis. Because these analyses are expensive, insurance companies should reimburse patients and physicians for the costs associated with molecular profiling for diagnosis. It is hoped that such policies will become routine. Early detection is a key to success in cancer medicine, and it is expected that early detection with greater precision will become common in the future.
Molecular imaging can improve all aspects of clinical cancer care. Systems biology approaches will also facilitate better study design and development of individualized cancer therapy in the future. More work is needed to enable personalized therapy for all cancers, but the science is headed in the right direction.
There is great enthusiasm among scientists, clinicians, grant-funding agencies, private pharmaceutical leaders and diagnostic test and drug developers to expand research in the area of personalized medicine in cancer and co-develop CoDx. Researchers should work with industry partners to identify new targets, develop agents against these targets and develop clinical tests for cost-effective treatment.
The analysis was done in PubMed and covers the period up to January 2014. The data indicate that terms should be used very carefully, for example, using the word 'therapy' produces different results than does the word 'treatment'.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Personalized Medicine. 2014;11(8):761-771. © 2014 Future Medicine Ltd.
