Precision targeted therapy of ovarian cancer
Previously scientists researched cancer with a reductionist approach, examining single targets or pathways. Years of research have made many improvements in the field of oncology, but it appears there is a limit to improving patient mortality from ovarian cancer.
Morphological and molecular studies show ovarian cancer is a collection of disease subtypes with diverse origins and significantly different clinical behaviors. Tumours are comprised of various differentiated cell types, which form a unique microenvironment. Treating all forms of ovarian cancer with a single “miracle” treatment appears impossible.
New approaches to cancer medicine are required in order to improve treatment outcomes. The concept of systems biology should be applied to ovarian cancer to develop predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory (P4) cancer medicine. *
Systems biology takes a broader, more holistic approach to understanding the basic biology of cancer, including genetics, signaling pathways, etc. and their interaction, which form the complex biological system found in a tumour.
Targeted therapeutics demonstrates a clinical promise in the future. The key is to discover and diagnose tumours as early and accurately as possible. This is the main obstacle for ovarian cancer care and needs to be improved in order to improve outcomes and reduce mortality rates.
* Medicine that focuses on the integrated diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease in individual patients. Hood 2002
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