The integration of genomic profiling and precision oncology into Australia’s cancer care system could transform our approach to one of the nation’s leading causes of death.
A new report emanating from a series of roundtables with some of Australia’s leading cancer experts says moving away from the “one-size-fits-all” approach towards targeted therapies could improve patient outcomes, extend survival, reduce the personal burden of cancer, and make health systems more efficient.
This is particularly critical for rare and less common cancers which make up 24 per cent of cancer diagnoses and 33 per cent of cancer deaths, the report says.
The roundtables were a collaboration between Rare Cancers Australia and Australian Genomics to shine a light on the benefits of integrating genomics into mainstream cancer care, make it more accessible to everyone, and develop a way forward.
Representatives from industry, leading cancer researchers and clinicians, patient advocates, government officials, and peak bodies explored barriers and enablers to integrating genomics into cancer care.
The report sets out five overarching steps to guide the transition including investment in infrastructure and technology, workforce upskilling, and developing a national model to ensure equitable access to genomic profiling.
Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) targets the specific biology of a person’s cancer, its molecular profile. This information is used to tailor approaches to screening, prevention and treatment, drug selection, clinical trials and at other points on the continuum of patient care.
The full report, Advancing genomic-led cancer care in Australia, will help inform future policy development and the implementation of genomics into mainstream cancer care.