The medical field is constantly changing, with new technology seemingly appearing every day. Even in a span of ten years, from 2010 to 2020, cancer treatments advanced greatly, and people became more aware of causes and outcomes. Read below for some breakthroughs in cancer research.

Precision Oncology

In this field, the genetics and molecular characteristics of individual patients’ cancers are analyzed. This allows for a shift from one-size-fits-all to more personalized treatments, increasing success rates. There are still issues with this, as many patients do not have access to precision medicine and the data are not yet precise enough, but the future of this technique is promising.

CAR T Cell Therapy

This is a type of immunotherapy in which T cells from patients are altered to help them destroy cancer cells. The altered T cells produce proteins called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that allow them to recognize and kill cancer cells easier. CAR T treatment is used for blood cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma.

AI Tools

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have begun being used in cancer diagnosis and treatment. For example, researchers at NIH have created an AI tool that predicts whether a patient will respond to a particular drug based on tumor cell data. AI can also be used to identify the presence of cancer using X-rays.

Deeper Understanding of Cancer

Scientists now understand the mechanisms of cancer more clearly than before. For example, environmental and genetic factors are being explored as causes of cancer. These fundamentals lead to better outcomes, even though cancers come in many forms.

Links for further reading:

Precision Medicine: https://ascopost.com/issues/january-25-2017/what-precisely-is-precision-oncology-and-will-it-work
CAR T Cell Therapy: https://www.pennmedicine.org/cancer/navigating-cancer-care/treatment-types/immunotherapy/what-is-car-t-therapy
AI Tool by NIH: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-researchers-develop-ai-tool-potential-more-precisely-match-cancer-drugs-patients
Cancer Mechanisms: https://ccr.cancer.gov/news/horizons/article/mechanisms-of-cancer