Precision oncology will only be a reality for all patients if there is collaboration between the different stakeholders within the healthcare system — such as industry partners, academia, and regulatory bodies — to increase patient access.

Advances in proteomics are improving cancer biomarker discovery, drug discovery, and drug target validation.

Plasma and serum are brimming with potential protein biomarkers that can provide detailed information about health and disease mechanisms without the need for invasive medical procedures.

Recent recommendations from the ESMO Precision Medicine Working Group and National Comprehensive Cancer Network, coupled with US Food and Drug Administration review and approval, have highlighted the use of tumor mutational burden testing in clinical practice for a number of different tumor types. 

In recent years, the field of proteomics has undergone a transformation, enabling quantitative analysis of more than 10,000 proteins across thousands of samples, while advances in structural chemoproteomics allow researchers to map drug binding sites with unprecedented resolution. These next-generation proteomics approaches are driving significant progress in precision oncology. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive disruption to cancer care. Delays in diagnosis and treatment highlight the importance of establishing a personalized healthcare approach that provides tailored care, integrates innovation, and supports equal access to cancer care.