Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment: Role of Technology

Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment: Role of Technology

Cancer
care has seen tremendous progress over the years with coming of age medicines
and growth in biomedical technologies. In today’s times, precision cancer
medicine has enabled cancer specialists to combine a particular type of cancer
treatment or a therapy to a patient depending on the type of cancer, stage and
size of the tumour. Following several advancements in the field of cancer care
as well as technology, the ability for oncologists to treat cancer patients
with more precision and elevate the success rate of treatment has improved
tremendously.

Let us understand
Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment better

Precision medicine is a primary approach by doctors to treat patients based on a genetic understanding of their condition. The evolving concept aims at leveraging new genomic information which pinpoints to specific cancer with targeted treatment analysis. In layman’s terms, precision medicine is more like a personalised treatment which brings forth an exact analysis of the patient’s health condition, their genetics and what treatment would provide the best positive and life-affirming results. The treatment does not rely predominantly on a broad classification of cancer but specifically more on the genetics of the patient with the specific cancer to bring forth positive results. Over the years, with advancements in science and technology, the process of precision medicine to treat cancer patients have paced with respect to the research segment.

The usual process of treating cancer based on the diagnosis were quite standard as based on the type of cancer and the stage of cancer, the treatments were provided. However, each body is different and responds differently which brought forth diverse results. Following years of research, scientists have now realised the various genetic modifications because of the growth and spread of cancer based on the patient’s tumour. Further, it has also been discovered that the kind of variation that is witnessed by one patient’s tumour is not the same with another patient of the same type and stage of cancer.

The hope of
Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment

A
tailored treatment with precision medicine derived from genetic tests do show
tremendous promise. It helps decide which kind of treatment would be ideal for
the patient based on the tumour detected and its behaviour. There are
combination therapies which are often taken up to treat cancer depending on the
severity of its augmentation. From surgery to immunotherapy, there are many
treatments offered to patients that primarily depend on the type of cancer, its
size and the degree of metastasize. Precision medicines are mainly drugs that
are effective against cancers with FDA approvals.

Integration
of Artificial Intelligence and Nanotechnology for Precision Medicine for Cancer
Treatment

With
advancements in the technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology
have been used as instruments to further bring accuracy to precision medicine
treatment for cancer. Thanks to the extensive improvement in acquiring patient
data with better designs of nanomaterial, the tailored precision medicine
treatment for cancer patients has been enhanced. Bringing AI on board with
nanotechnology has further bolstered a rational design of diagnostic and
therapeutic platforms with more accuracy. Definitive results in terms of
nanomedicine which ranges from applications of nanomaterial and biological
devices to nanoelectronic biosensors has also seen a positive outlook with
special credits to the application of AI.

Reforms
in AI and ML has resulted in resounding development of tools and algorithms
which help prepare efficacy when dealing with tailored precision medicine
treatment for cancer patients. The prognosis derived from the algorithms
prepared by AI technologies to gauge treatments are quite meticulous and offers
a great reduction in the possibility of errors in terms of the treatment
suggested.

Reference links:

nanomedicine |
Definition, Research, & Applications | Britannica

Precision
Medicine in Cancer Treatment – National Cancer Institute

Integrating
Artificial Intelligence and Nanotechnology for Precision Cancer Medicine –
PubMed (nih.gov)

Precision
Cancer Medicines – Changing Cancer Care for the Better (cancerconnect.com)