Challenges in Implementing Comprehensive Precision Medicine Screening for Ovarian Cancer

Curr Oncol. 2024 Dec 18;31(12):8023-8038. doi: 10.3390/curroncol31120592.

Abstract

Precision medicine has revolutionised targeted cancer treatments; however, its implementation in ovarian cancer remains challenging. Diverse tumour biology and extensive heterogeneity in ovarian cancer can limit the translatability of genetic profiling and contribute to a lack of biomarkers of treatment response. This review addresses the barriers in precision medicine for ovarian cancer, including obtaining adequate and representative tissue samples for analysis, developing functional and standardised screening methods, and navigating data infrastructure and management. Ethical concerns related to patient consent, data privacy and health equity are also explored. We highlight the socio-economic complexities for precision medicine and propose strategies to overcome these challenges with an emphasis on accessibility and education amongst patients and health professionals and the development of regulatory frameworks to support clinical integration. Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to drive progress in precision medicine to improve disease management and ovarian cancer patient outcomes.

Keywords: epithelial ovarian cancer; genomic screening; high-throughput drug screening; precision medicine; tumour heterogeneity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Early Detection of Cancer / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Precision Medicine* / methods