Role of precision medicine in cancer treatment stressed

In a bid to promote personalised or ‘precision’ medicine as a part of cancer treatment, the Freedom from Cancer and Relief Research Foundation organised an oncology conclave to mark the eve of National Cancer Survivors Day here on Saturday.

Anita Ramesh, medical oncologist and founder of the foundation, said precision medicine, which involved molecular diagnostics, would tailor the treatment, taking into account an individual’s genes.

Long-term effectiveness

This would be more effective in the long run.

“For lung cancer and breast cancer, precision medicine has helped many patients as it has a better response. While their use was previously limited by factors such as availability and affordability in the country, the situation is changing and more patients have to be made aware of such treatment that can help,” Dr. Anita said.

While precision medicine would have to be used for a longer time when compared to chemotherapy or radiation, the side-effects would be a lot lesser, Dr. Anita said. “This ensures better survival rate as well,” she added.

Representatives of V ClinBio Labs and QIAGEN India, co-hosts of the conclave, also spoke.