PROSCA/BLADDR 2023 | The evolving landscape of precision medicine & the role of molecular profiling in guiding therapies

Bram De Laere, PhD, from Ghent University in Belgium, discusses the evolving landscape of precision medicine and the importance of molecular profiling in guiding targeted therapies. He emphasizes the need for understanding a tumor’s molecular architecture before initiating treatments, focusing on the example of PARP inhibitors and the necessity to screen patients for DNA repair defects. Dr De Laere outlines three critical reasons for molecular profiling: predicting therapeutic efficacy, providing prognostic insights, and facilitating genetic consultations for patients and their families. The discussion touches upon two testing approaches—tissue-based analysis and liquid biopsy, particularly using plasma for cell-free DNA. The limitations of liquid biopsies area acknowledged, including the challenge of detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in all patients and issues related to sensitivity thresholds for different genomic alterations. He proposes a shift from broad profiling to focused and deep profiling, using advanced technologies to overcome these limitations. This illuminating conversation took place at the Global Congress on Prostate and Bladder Cancer (PROSCA/BLADDR) 2023 in Malaga, Spain.

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