Molecular Profiling: Personalization at the Molecular Level

Molecular Profiling: Personalization at the Molecular Level

by Michelle De Vera, M.D., FAAAAI

No two persons are alike.  So it certainly isn’t surprising that any disease afflicting any two individuals cannot be alike as well. 

This holds particular significance in cancer, where technological advances have shown that despite having similar appearances and manifestations among patients diagnosed through conventional means, no two tumors are ever the same. When studied to their smallest components, certain genes, molecules, and biomarkers will be different from person to person. And this may spell the difference in a person’s prognosis and response to treatment.  The therapy that might work for Maria’s breast cancer may not be as effective for Juana’s breast cancer. 

No two people are alike. And no two cancers are alike. 

This important concept underscores the importance of Molecular Profiling. In this test, a patient’s tumor can be characterized to identify molecular targets to which chemotherapeutic agents can act on. Once identified, this information can aid physicians in designing a customized therapeutic plan that is uniquely effective to the patient’s particular cancer. This can also prevent patients from being treated with drugs that may be inappropriate for their specific tumor.

And isn’t this the goal that every physician aims for – for patients to be given a therapeutic regimen that will most likely work, while sparing them from any complications and side effects from drugs that their tumors may already be resistant to? 

At the Institute of Personalized Molecular Medicine (IPMM) of The Medical City (TMC), we work with our Cancer Center to create a personalized treatment plan for our cancer patients.  Tumor samples can be collected and sent to the laboratory, where scientists and medical specialists identify the presence of a number of available molecular markers. The presence or absence of different markers can help the medical team determine therapeutic options that will most likely be effective for each individual case.

Aside from the Molecular Profiling itself, the tumor samples may also be used for a specific therapy in the form of Dendritic Cell Therapy (DCT).  DCT is an innovative, non-standard form of therapy that uses the patient’s own immune system to recognize their target cancer cells. At TMC, this option of cellular immunotherapy can be combined with customized chemotherapy with the goal of achieving better and safer results for patients with various cancers.

About IPMM

IPMM is a unit of The Medical City focused on the ethical delivery of personalized molecular medicine treatments. The backbone of the IPMM is Regenerative Medicine, a revolutionary field involving the engineering of cells and other biomaterials with the goals of restoring organ function lost or impaired due to disease or injury, and improving the quality of life

IPMM is one of the very few accredited Human Stem Cell and Cell-based Therapy Programs in the country, with accreditation granted by the Department of Health in November 2014.

For appointments and inquiries, please call (632) 988 1000 / (632) 988 7000 loc 6307 / 6551, or visit www.themedicalcity.com.