The expert physicians and advanced practice providers at The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers (TCCC) understand that when it comes to cancer treatment, one size definitely does not fit all—even when treating different individuals with the same form of cancer. In fact, the TCCC team recognizes that the most effective cancer therapies are those personalized to the unique characteristics of patients and their disease. This leading-edge approach to treatment, commonly called personalized therapy or precision therapy (among other terms), is improving patient outcomes across a wide range of cancer types and subtypes.
TCCC hematologist/ oncologist Charu Trivedi, MD, states, “We’ve always considered factors such as the patient’s health, family history, and lifestyle in determining how to treat them. However, the technology has advanced to such an extent that we can now look at the patient’s genetic makeup, as well as the microenvironment of the cancer and the genes and proteins associated with it, and use that information to determine the best course of treatment.”
Prior to the advent of personalized therapies—i.e., before doctors could determine what was happening with tumors at the cellular level—the treatment of advanced cancers was relatively uniform, typically involving surgery along with chemotherapy and/or radiation. With this more generalized treatment approach, two different patients undergoing treatment for the same form of cancer might respond very differently to the same therapy, and doctors didn’t always understand why.
Today, traditional treatment may still be the best option in many cases, but, as Dr. Trivedi explains, “We now have the ability through technology to look at the genetic characteristics of the cancer and then individualize and target our treatment approach appropriately.”
Not only is personalized cancer treatment more effective, but it also helps minimize side effects compared to traditional therapies. For example, traditional chemo tended to kill all rapidly dividing cells, both good and bad, so healthy hair and nail cells would be killed along with the cancer cells, causing hair loss and nail damage. “In contrast, when using the newer treatments based on the proteins and microenvironment of the cancer, only the cancer cells are destroyed, so we’re seeing fewer side effects,” says Dr. Trivedi.
A personalized approach to medicine can play an important role in cancer prevention as well. By looking at an individual’s unique genetic makeup, family history, lifestyle factors such as alcohol/tobacco use and diet, and the results of screening tests such as mammogram, MRI, molecular breast imaging, PSA (prostate-specific antigen), and others, doctors can determine whether he or she is at increased risk of developing cancer and then recommend healthy habits, an individualized screening schedule, and/or treatments to help lower that risk.
According to Dr. Trivedi, currently the majority of cancer types can be treated with personalized therapies, though some are more fine-tuned than others. Research is ongoing to determine more and better ways to individualize and target treatments to specific cancers, and the number of these therapies is growing day by day. That’s great news for cancer patients, who will live longer and better lives as a result.
The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers, located at 1200 Medical Center Parkway in Maumee and 4126 N. Holland Sylvania Road, Suite 105 in Toledo, also provides imaging, laboratory, chemotherapy, specialized pharmacy, and IV services. The cancer center consists of 13 physicians and 11 advanced practice providers. The cancer center also has satellite centers in Napoleon, Bowling Green, Wauseon, Bellevue, and Monroe.
The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers has earned Patient-Centered Specialty Practice recognition and Oncology Medical Home recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Oncology homes align systems and resources with coordinated care focused on cancer patients and their needs. This reduces fragmentation, supports shared decision making, and improves the patient experience. They are the first oncology practice in the state of Michigan and the second oncology practice in the state of Ohio to receive this recognition.
For more information, please call The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers at
419-479-5605. ✲
