Innovative Use of Nine Molecular Techniques Enables Rapid, Personalized Cancer Treatment

Recent advancements at the Tumor Profiler Center, a collaborative effort between the University Hospital Zurich, the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, and the University Hospital Basel, have demonstrated a groundbreaking approach to cancer therapy. In a pioneering study published in Nature Medicine, researchers employed nine different molecular biology technologies simultaneously to analyze tumors within a four-week window, facilitating tailored treatment decisions for patients with complex cancers.

This innovative methodology addresses the challenge that each tumor is unique, often making it difficult to determine the most effective therapy. Traditional guidelines have improved treatment outcomes, particularly in melanoma, but many patients still face uncertain prognosis when standard therapies are exhausted or multiple options exist. The Tumor Profiler project aims to complement existing guidelines by providing a detailed, cell-level understanding of tumors, capturing information from DNA, RNA, and protein analyses.

The study involved 116 patients, with data points reaching approximately 43,000 per tumor sample—about half a terabyte of information. Using this comprehensive data, clinicians could recommend personalized treatment options, which were available within four weeks. In 75% of cases, these recommendations proved helpful for therapy selection, and physicians found the data to be directly applicable.

This approach not only broadens the scope of potential drugs by considering therapies used for other cancers but also enhances the precision of treatment guidance. The research highlights that such extensive molecular profiling is feasible in clinical settings and yields meaningful insights that could improve patient outcomes.

Lead researcher Nicola Miglino emphasized that the findings demonstrate the practicality of rapid tumor analysis and personalized recommendations. The USZ Tumor Board evaluated the data, resulting in tailored therapies that increased response rates compared to standard approaches.

This study marks a significant step toward data-driven medicine, paving the way for future clinical trials aimed at predicting the most effective therapies based on a tumor's molecular profile, rather than relying solely on tissue origin. Continued research and larger trials are necessary to validate these promising results and integrate multiomics tumor profiling into routine cancer care.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-parallel-molecular-methods-yields-personalized.html