What is precision medicine in oncology?

Precision medicine has become a clinical reality for the identification of the most suitable therapy for each patient based on the characterization of their cancer genetic profile. Technological advancements have allowed a better understanding of cancer at the cellular and molecular level, in the context of its heterogeneity and complexity. The identification of druggable gene aberrations or predictive/diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers might have a positive impact as innovative therapeutic strategies for better patient care. In this context, a diversity of innovative trial design strategies has allowed us to address the associated need for evidence of clinical utility. Also, liquid biopsy helps the monitoring of the course of the disease and treatment in terms of response or resistance mechanisms. Moreover, the discussion of patient’ information in multidisciplinary teams provides another important contribution. In this chapter, we provide an overview of precision medicine in the vision of a strategy that is transforming cancer patient care.