In the evolving landscape of cancer care, personalized oncology treatment has emerged as a game-changer. Unlike the traditional one-size-fits-all approach, personalized oncology tailors treatment strategies to the unique genetic, molecular, and clinical characteristics of each patient’s cancer. By leveraging advanced molecular testing, multi-omic analyses, and innovative therapeutic strategies, personalized cancer treatments have the potential to enhance patient outcomes by improving treatment efficacy, and minimizing unnecessary side effects.
The Limitations of Traditional Cancer Treatment
For decades, cancer treatment has relied on standardized protocols, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. While these treatments have saved millions of lives, they often come with significant drawbacks:
1. Variable Effectiveness
Standard protocols do not always account for the genetic and molecular diversity of tumors, leading to resistance and treatment failure. This occurs because traditional treatments are designed based on the average patient, rather than tailored to the specific biological characteristics of an individual’s cancer. A treatment that works for one patient may not work for another, even if they have the same type of cancer. Tumors have unique genetic mutations that can make them resistant to standard therapies that often do not target the cause of the pathology, leading to poor responses in some patients.
For example, individuals with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have EGFR mutations respond well to targeted EGFR inhibitors, as the intervention targets the cause of the disease—the mutated EGFR. However, patients without the mutation see little benefit from the same treatment, as it is not personalized to the causes of their condition.
2. Severe Side Effects
Broad-spectrum treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy often lead to toxic side effects such as nausea, fatigue, immune suppression, and organ damage.
Imagine trying to kill a fly on the wall with a shotgun. While you might hit the fly, you will also cause massive collateral damage to the wall, shattering everything around it. Traditional chemotherapy works in a similar way—it attacks cancer cells, but in the process, it also destroys many healthy cells, leading to severe side effects.
3. Resistance Development and Limited Adaptability
As mentioned previously, standard protocols do not always account for the genetic and molecular diversity of tumors, leading to resistance and treatment failure. Cancer is highly heterogeneous, meaning that even within the same cancer type, tumors can have vastly different genetic mutations, metabolic profiles, and microenvironments.
Additionally, due to the rapidly multiplying nature of cancer cells, the underlying causes and how treatments interact with them may change over time. Rigid treatment plans cannot easily accommodate these changes in tumor biology, leading to increased treatment resistance.
By monitoring a patient’s profile on a multi-omic level via a more personalized approach, treatment resistance can be tracked, and new targeted treatment options can be identified reactively.
Astron’s Approach to Personalizing Oncology
If standard oncology is like using a shotgun to kill a fly on a wall, personalized oncology is like using a precision laser to target just the fly, leaving the surrounding environment intact. Personalizing oncology treatment can lead to higher response rates, reduced side effects, improved adaptability, and longer survival rates. Cancer is incredibly complex and unique to everyone, and Astron Health is working to combat this by personalizing treatment options for each specific case. Here’s how:
1. Comprehensive Molecular Testing
Understanding the unique molecular makeup of a patient’s cancer is the foundation of personalized oncology. At Astron Health, we go beyond standard diagnostic tests by analyzing cancer at multiple levels to uncover its vulnerabilities:
- Genomic Testing: We identify specific mutations in the DNA of cancer cells that may be driving tumor growth. These mutations often serve as targets for precision therapies.
For example, mutations in the EGFR gene in lung cancer or BRCA1/2 mutations in breast and ovarian cancers can guide the use of targeted drugs like EGFR inhibitors or PARP inhibitors.
- Transcriptomic Analysis: While genomic testing reveals the blueprint of cancer, transcriptomic analysis shows which genes are actively being expressed. This helps us understand how the cancer is behaving in real time and which pathways are being exploited for its survival.
- Pathway Analysis: Cancer cells often hijack normal cellular pathways to grow and spread. By mapping these pathways, we can identify critical points of vulnerability.
For instance, if a tumor relies heavily on a specific metabolic pathway, we can target that pathway to disrupt its growth.
This multi-layered approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the cancer’s biology, enabling us to identify the most effective treatment options.
2. Drug Repurposing and Supplement Use
One of the most exciting advancements in personalized oncology is the ability to repurpose existing medications to target cancer. Drug repurposing involves using medications that were originally developed for other conditions but have shown potential in treating cancer. After analyzing existing molecular reports and identifying vulnerabilities, we use our proprietary database to identify repurposed drugs and supplements that target them. This approach offers several advantages, including faster availability, lower costs, and a well-established safety profile.
- Examples of Repurposed Drugs:
- Metformin: Commonly used to treat diabetes, metformin has been shown to inhibit cancer cell metabolism and reduce tumor growth in certain cancers.
- Statins: Widely prescribed for lowering cholesterol, statins have demonstrated anti-cancer properties by interfering with pathways that cancer cells use to grow and spread.
By integrating repurposed drugs and other supplements into treatment plans, we can expand the range of therapeutic options available to patients, often with fewer side effects than traditional therapies.
3. Personalized Protocols & Monitoring
At Astron Health, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we use advanced analytics and the expertise of our tumor board to create personalized treatment options that are as unique as the patient’s cancer. Here’s how it works:
- Data-Driven Insights: Using the results from molecular testing, we identify the most promising treatment options, including targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and repurposed drugs. These personalized research findings are based on the latest clinical research and real-world evidence.
- Expert Tumor Board: Our multidisciplinary team of oncologists and scientists reviews each case in detail. Together, they design a personalized treatment protocol that addresses the specific characteristics of the patient’s cancer.
- Dynamic and Adaptive Plans: Cancer is not static—it evolves over time. That’s why our personalized protocols are designed to adapt as the patient’s cancer changes. By continuously monitoring the tumor’s molecular profile and the patient’s response to treatment, we can adjust the plan in real time to ensure the best possible outcomes.
While we’re excited about the potential of our approach, we remain grounded in science. We’re currently planning a Randomized Control Trial in collaboration with King’s College London and the University of Birmingham, which will begin in mid-2025.
The Future of Personalized Cancer Treatment
As research continues to advance, personalized oncology will become the gold standard of cancer treatment. With ongoing developments in multi-omics profiling, artificial intelligence-driven data analysis, and novel therapeutic strategies, the potential for improving patient outcomes is incredible.
At Astron Health, we are committed to pioneering this revolution in oncology. By integrating synthetic lethality, multi-omics analysis, and repurposed drug research, we aim to provide patients with the most effective, data-driven, and patient-centric cancer treatment options available today.
Interested in becoming a clinical partner or exploring how Astron can help your case? Click the button below to find out more.
Astron is a research organization focused on advancing precision oncology through multiple lenses. We provide reports to patients under the guidance of their referring oncologist, where clinicians believe our insights may support patient care. If you’re a patient interested in our research or reports, please speak with your primary clinician about whether Astron may be appropriate for your recovery journey. If you’re a clinician interested in learning more or collaborating with us, please reach out to support@astron.health — we’d be happy to connect.
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