Precision Oncology, Signaling Pathways Reprogramming and Targeted Therapy: A Holistic Approach to Molecular Cancer Therapeutics

Cancer is a fatal genetic disease involving unregulated cell growth and proliferation with varying underlying complexities including immune evasion, treatment resistance and recurrence, and optimized treatment is required for proper cure. Molecular studies have revealed that tumors are extremely heterogeneous in nature, leading to the complexity of cancer development, which is ultimately linked to its genetic machinery. It would require effective targeting of dysregulated molecular mechanisms involving growth factors, regulatory proteins, cell adhesion molecules, and molecules of immune system mainly driven by alterations in tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes that may vary among different cancer types. Importantly, patients with the same type of cancer respond differently to available cancer treatments, indicating the need for patient-specific treatment options. Thus, in-depth genomic studies of patients' tumors are needed to fully understand the determinants of cancer initiation and progression for effective targeted therapy. Precision oncology has evolved as a form of cancer therapy focused on genetic profiling of tumors to identify molecular alterations involved in cancer manifestation for tailored individualized treatment of the disease. Accordingly, there have been great developments in the formulation and production of anticancer agents in recent years owing to advances in molecular technologies enabling precise targeting of oncogenic pathways involved in disease progression. This article aims to briefly explain the foundations and frontiers of precision oncology in the context of advancements in the tools and techniques associated with the process to assess its scope and importance in realizing the intended goals.