Oncologia di precisione: la terminologia è importante.

AUTORI

ABSTRACT

Precision oncology: when the metrics does matter.

Precision oncology can be considered as the application of “Precision Medicine” to the management of cancerpatients. Although this new chapter of the modern medicine is really exciting and many clinicians and researchers arespending some efforts in the setting of tests and clinical trials able to identify new potential biomarkers, theidentification of the specific oncogenic mutation driving the tumor growth and giving a chance of target-selective drug,still remains challenging. Sometimes the term precision medicine as wee as precision oncology can be consideredtoo simplistic: in practice, indeed, some important issues like the genetic heterogeneity of tumors, the complexity ofpathways used by different tumors, and the inevitable development of drug resistance, are not considered as a partof complete patients’ disease evolution. Therefore, in order to guide clinicians and laboratory community to harmonizethe metrics surrounding the precision oncology path, a glossary has been defined by an intersociety group. Thepresent joint document has been elaborated by the following scientific societies: Italian Society of Clinical Chemistry(SIBioC), Italian Association of Medical Oncology, Italian Association of Clinical Pathology (SIAPEC), Italian Societyof Farmacology (SIF) and is aimed to allow the research and clinical communities to familiarize with new conceptsand terminologies which are not often well defined. We underline as, in the management of the paths related to theprecision oncology, the terminology is fundamental, both for the scientific aspects and for those related to thecommunication with the patients. Therefore, below is a glossary that can be useful to all specialists in the clinical area,basic and translational research.

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