Personalizing Supportive Care: Pharmacogenomics and Risk Prediction
Authors | Stephen Sonis |
Published | May 26, 2016 |
Journal | ASCO Daily News |
Abstract:
The importance of treatment-related side effects in impeding effective cancer therapy was recognized in the recently articulated “cancer moonshot” initiative. Regimen-related toxicities impact the overall success of treatment outcomes—in some sense, a tail capable of wagging the dog. To truly impact the tolerability of treatment, effective, personalized, biologically-based prevention of side effects is more desirable than reactive palliative management. Not only does such an approach mitigate the miseries associated with cytotoxic or targeted regimens in a cost-effective way, but it opens a window for even more aggressive and definitive cancer treatment.