From Biology to Targeted Cancer Treatment and Prevention

Cancer is a complex disease involving accumulation of multiple molecular abnormalities during a long period of time. Because the differences in timing and types of abnormalities, together with differences in inherited

Cancer is a complex disease involving accumulation of multiple molecular abnormalities during a long period of time. Because the differences in timing and types of abnormalities, together with differences in inherited genetic background of individuals, patients with even same type cancer may experience dramatically different clinical presentations and outcomes. With better understanding underlying biology of cancers, molecular abnormalities critical for cancer cell survival have been revealed and targeted for cancer treatment. Molecular markers have also been developed to serve as tools to better classify patients beyond clinical and histological examination. Biomarkerbased target identification and individualized treatment selection have been implemented in modern cancer therapeutic and cancer prevention clinical trials.