Precision medicine for cancer

Medical treatments are often designed as a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s where precision medicine comes in. Precision medicine, often referred to as "personalized medicine", involves tailoring disease prevention and treatment to a patient’s specific genes, environment and lifestyle. The goal of precision medicine is to target the right treatments to the right patients at the right time.

What is precision medicine for cancer?

Precision medicine, or personalized medicine, takes tailored cancer care a step further by looking at a tumor’s specific characteristics, or molecular footprint. Doctors have known for a while that some genetic mutations and other changes cause cancer. Occasionally, changes get passed down from parents and are present at birth, but most develop as we grow and age.

Even among the same type of cancer, the genetic changes driving growth vary, making treatment less of a one-size-fits-all approach. While standard treatments continue to work for many cancers, precision medicine provides a more individualized version of care.

What are the key principles of precision medicine for cancer?

Precision medicine for cancer, or precision oncology, involves a variety of steps and follows a few key principles. These include:

• Molecular profiling: This involves analyzing a tumor to identify specific targets.
• Targeted therapies: This involves personalized treatment that targets the genes, proteins and surrounding tissues that help a cancer cell grow and thrive. Targeted therapies are often used in combination with other cancer treatments.
• Biomarker testing: This testing involves looking for biomarkers, or tumor markers, to provide information about your cancer diagnosis and help determine your specific treatment options.
• Individualized care: Specialized treatment plans focus on customized care for your cancer diagnosis.
• Molecular tumor boards: Targeted therapy is strategized by our Molecular Tumor Board (MTB), a multidisciplinary team consisting of medical oncologists, pathologists, pharmacists, genetic counselors and research coordinators that review molecular profiling results and provide recommendations on targeted treatment options, additional testing and any potential clinical trial eligibility.
• Prioritization of prevention and early diagnosis: Genetic information can identify cancer risks early and be relied on when implementing preventive measures.

How does precision medicine for cancer work?

Precision medicine is ideal for patients who have cancer that’s no longer responding to standard treatment. The process involves searching for drugs that can help manage your cancer long-term while also being easier on your body. The precision medicine process involves:

• Genetic sampling: The process begins with taking a new tissue sample, also known as a biopsy. If the tumor is hard to reach or you prefer not to undergo a biopsy, a new blood test may help. The test looks for DNA that tumors may shed into the blood.
• Testing: A lab examines your DNA for all relevant genetic changes, including genetic mutations.
• Interpretation: Your clinician reviews the results and determines what factors are causing the tumor to grow.
• Database analysis: The team then turns to the Oncology Precision Network (OPeN). It’s the nation’s largest database for quickly sharing cancer care data between not-for-profit medical programs, including Aurora Health Care. We enter genetic changes identified during testing and interpretation, and then look for people with similarities to see which medications people received and how effective they were. This can help identify treatment options.
• Treatment: The search identifies newer medications such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy, which harnesses your immune system to fight cancer. The drugs could come through a clinical trial, or your team may negotiate to use them for a nonapproved or off-label use. If we don’t find a match, the team may recommend additional chemotherapy.

Utilizing precision medicine for advanced cancers

If you have advanced cancer that no longer responds to chemotherapy or other standard treatment, the precision medicine team at Aurora Health Care may be able to help. Those still healthy enough for treatment start by getting tested for tumor mutations. Using special software and an extensive database, your team finds matches with similar tumors across the country. They determine which treatments worked the best and offer you the most promising options.

Oncology Precision Medicine Clinic

At the Oncology Precision Medicine Clinic, you’ll receive care from one of the state’s first programs dedicated to genetic changes in tumors. Your team uses insights from the latest research to work toward a shared goal: helping you live longer, with a better quality of life. The clinic offers:

• Expertise: We bring together specialists in medical oncology, pharmacy, pathology, research and genetic counseling. Together, they:
  • Keep up with the latest developments in a rapidly evolving, highly specialized field
  • Spend the time to thoroughly investigate your case
  • Determine which genetic changes are driving tumor growth and may provide treatment targets
• Options for care: You have two choices for tumor testing. You can get it done at any Aurora Health Care cancer clinic with your doctor consulting the precision medicine team. Or you and your loved ones can come to the team’s Milwaukee clinic for face-to-face, in-depth discussion. These direct consultations are not available at most tumor programs.
• Resources: Advanced software and a partnership with other top centers provide access to an extensive database. Your team searches for other people like you, evaluating their treatment and results. This approach identifies promising medications sooner.
• Additional support: If you inherited a genetic mutation with a high cancer risk, the clinic team can refer you to genetic counseling and testing at Aurora Health Care.

The Oncology Precision Medicine Clinic is located in the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee. You can reach co-director Jennifer Godden at 414-385-5845.

Get directions to the Oncology Precision Medicine Clinic

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