By: Alyssa Wang
Introduction
Precision medicine, a recent “buzzword” in the medical field, refers to a transformative approach to medicine that tailors treatment to a patient’s individual genes, environments, and lifestyles. Its usages span across various areas of medicine, with particular interest arising in its implications for oncology. Precision medicine can allow doctors to design treatments that are most effective for the patient and consider the patients’ unique background.
Precision Oncology
One area where precision medicine is creating massive changes is in oncology. Through molecular or genetic testing of tumors in cancer patients, scientists are learning more about the nature of the disease that a preliminary evaluation cannot reveal.
These tests, often referred to as biomarker testing, occur when doctors remove a tumor or other tissue samples to be screened for gene changes and protein levels. This screening is routinely done for non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. By identifying somatic mutations in tumors (mutations developed during the lifetime), doctors can prescribe treatments that have an increased likelihood of success, eliminating trial-and-error. For example, the Oncotype DX test looks at 21 genes to predict whether chemotherapy will likely be effective for a breast cancer patient.
The personalized information gathered from a biomarker test can allow doctors to identify the subtype and characteristic of tumors. As tumors found in the same part of the body can express entirely different biomarkers, these tests can lead to targeted treatments that may not be generally associated with that type of cancer. Biomarker testing can even match patients with clinical trials that target that specific biomarker.
Biomarker testing can also be used preventatively by identifying inherited mutations. Certain genes that cause a patient to be predisposed to cancer can indicate a need for additional screening. These tests can identify high-risk individuals and address risk factors in their lifestyles.
Pharmacogenomics
Another field in which precision medicine is playing an increasing role is pharmacology. Pharmacogenomics analyzes how a person’s genes affects how they will respond to medications. Doctors are now taking into account more factors than just age, sex, and body size when prescribing medication. Personal genetic information allows doctors to analyze the efficacy of medications to adapt treatments to a patient’s needs. As genetic variations affect drug metabolism, doctors can consider whether a patient will metabolize a drug too quickly or have toxic drug buildup.
Artificial Intelligence
As artificial intelligence technology continues to advance, doctors and scientists are finding ways to harness it in precision medicine. AI excels in processing and analyzing large amounts of data and can be used for identifying disease risk, predicting disease activity, or optimizing treatment strategies. Using AI to analyze genomes can allow diseases to be identified earlier as this technology can rapidly analyze DNA for mutations. However, much advancement is still needed, especially in areas of data privacy and accuracy, before AI becomes routinely incorporated into precision medicine.
Other Forms
Beyond genetics, precision medicine can take many forms. For example, biomarker testing can reveal crucial information about protein levels in the body and glucose monitoring systems can provide valuable insight about insulin dosages. Precision medicine also focuses on how environmental factors can interact with the body to affect genetics and diseases. Through analyzing a patient’s diet, chemical exposure, and stressors, clinicians can learn more about disease risks and identify treatment strategies. Doctors can even analyze a patient’s microbial profile to predict the risk of disease and design treatment strategies. For example, the gut microbiome has been shown to have a tremendous impact on the immune system.
Conclusion
Precision medicine is a powerful emerging tool that has benefited millions of patients and has the potential to benefit many more. As precision medicine becomes a more widespread practice, doctors will be able to better respond to patients’ individual needs. One challenge preventing increased adoption is the price tag, as genomic testing can cost up to thousands of dollars. However, as this technology becomes more accessible and affordable, precision medicine will be able to benefit the lives of more patients and truly personalize healthcare.
Works Cited
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Berg, Sara. “What Doctors Wish Patients Knew about Precision Medicine.” American Medical Association, 21 July 2023, http://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/precision-medicine/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-precision-medicine.
CDC. “Precision Health: Treat and Manage Disease.” Genomics and Your Health, 2 Dec. 2024, http://www.cdc.gov/genomics-and-health/precision-health-treat/index.html.
Chen, Yi-Ming, et al. “Unlocking Precision Medicine: Clinical Applications of Integrating Health Records, Genetics, and Immunology through Artificial Intelligence.” Journal of Biomedical Science, vol. 32, no. 1, 7 Feb. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-024-01110-w.
FDA. “Precision Medicine.” FDA, 8 Feb. 2019, http://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics/precision-medicine.
National Cancer Institute. “Biomarker Testing for Cancer Treatment – National Cancer Institute.” Www.cancer.gov, 14 Dec. 2021, http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/biomarker-testing-cancer-treatment.
NIH. “Precision Oncology.” National Institutes of Health (NIH), 21 Jan. 2025, http://www.nih.gov/about-nih/nih-turning-discovery-into-health/promise-precision-medicine/precision-oncology. Accessed 19 June 2025.
Normanno, Nicola. “Environmental “Determinants” in Precision Medicine.” Nature, 19 Feb. 2026, http://www.nature.com/collections/jijcbeihch. Accessed 19 June 2025.
StartUs Insights. “10 Emerging Trends in Precision Medicine [2025] | StartUs Insights.” StartUs Insights, 16 May 2025, http://www.startus-insights.com/innovators-guide/trends-in-precision-medicine/. Accessed 19 June 2025.
ThermoFisher. “What Is NGS? – US.” Www.thermofisher.com, http://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/sequencing/sequencing-learning-center/next-generation-sequencing-information/ngs-basics/what-is-next-generation-sequencing.html.
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