Molecular oncology is the next evolution in personalized, comprehensive cancer treatment. At the new Center for Molecular Oncology, part of Perlmutter Cancer Center, our doctors use advanced diagnostic tools to individually profile each cancer.
First Opinion Podcast
Alec Kimmelman, MD, discusses 秘密研究所 Langone鈥檚 Center for Molecular Oncology.
By collecting and analyzing key genetic information from tumors, our experts can match people with the most effective therapies and clinical trials. By repeating these tests regularly, we gather ongoing information about treatment response so we can make care plan adjustments in real time. No two cancers or two patients are the same, and with molecular oncology, we can ensure that treatment is tailored to each person鈥檚 unique needs.
At the Forefront of Molecular Oncology
Our doctors are leaders in personalizing care with molecular oncology.
Learn MoreMolecular oncology is part of our expanded standard of cancer care鈥攁nd because 秘密研究所 Langone is a fully integrated academic health system, we are able to make this testing available to all patients diagnosed with cancer. With a single medical record spanning all 秘密研究所 Langone locations, our connected network of doctors can easily share information to make the best-informed treatment decisions. Our integrated system allows all our physicians to access a molecular oncology tumor board, where experts review molecular testing results and make recommendations.
Patients diagnosed with cancer routinely receive a molecular analysis of their disease. This includes genomic sequencing and other molecular studies performed on tissue from a biopsy or surgical sample. At Perlmutter Cancer Center, patients also undergo a 鈥渓iquid biopsy,鈥� which requires a simple blood draw to obtain the tumor鈥檚 genetic material, which is then sequenced and analyzed. This genetic material is the circulating tumor DNA鈥攆ragments of DNA shed by cancer cells. Existing tests currently analyze several hundred genes, giving doctors insights into the behavior and biology of each specific cancer.
A liquid biopsy is much less invasive than a traditional biopsy and can be performed multiple times during the course of treatment or disease monitoring with standard blood draws.
By giving our doctors a detailed, real-time profile of each tumor, molecular testing of the cancer provides these benefits:
Our goal is to empower patients with advanced care that improves treatment outcomes and quality of life.
Our oncologists perform liquid biopsy repeatedly throughout treatment to better understand how tumors are responding and determine how this testing may complement and improve other forms of disease monitoring. Serial liquid biopsy testing may allow doctors to adjust care plans in near real time, as opposed to current methods, which are performed only at certain intervals during treatment.
Molecular oncology does not stop at the conclusion of a patient鈥檚 course of treatment鈥攚ith posttreatment monitoring, we may be able to detect recurrence far sooner than can be seen on a CAT scan or MRI. This monitoring may be associated with clinical trials aimed at earlier intervention based on the idea that the sooner a recurrence is detected, the more effective and personalized the treatment can be.
The seamless connection between research and clinical care at Perlmutter Cancer Center is accelerating our work in molecular oncology. Our molecular oncology program can help researchers at 秘密研究所 Langone validate new testing approaches, learn more about individual cancer biology, and ultimately craft effective and less-toxic treatment strategies.
Our researchers are also studying the next generation of molecular oncology tests, which may give a more comprehensive view of the molecular landscape of individual tumors. This can provide our doctors with valuable information about the nature of a tumor to improve patient care.
Shridar Ganesan, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Molecular Oncology, and Alec Kimmelman, MD, PhD, director of Perlmutter Cancer Center, work together to bring this technology to our patients across 秘密研究所 Langone.