Understanding Precision Oncology
MCW researchers are studying cancer in a whole new way—right down to its building blocks. Using genomics (DNA changes), epigenomics (chemical switches that turn genes on or off), and transcriptomics (patterns of gene activity), they are tracing the processes that drive tumor growth, treatment resistance, and progression. Even cancers that appear similar under a microscope can behave very differently, and this multi-omics approach helps explain why.
Supported by the Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine, investigators combine molecular understanding with large-scale datasets and computational analyses. This helps them detect subtle patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed, giving a detailed view of what's happening in each patient's cancer.
These discoveries are already guiding care in specialized settings such as the Rare Cancer and Precision Medicine Clinic, where detailed tumor analysis helps clinicians explore additional treatment options for cancers that are complex, rare, and not well understood. When standard therapies fall short, this approach allows clinicians to tailor care and offer alternatives that are informed by the latest scientific evidence.
By connecting these discoveries directly to patient care, precision oncology is making cancer care smarter, more targeted, and increasingly personalized—redefining how treatment decisions are made so patients receive care as unique as they are.
Drugging the Undruggable: McFall Lab Unlocks New Treatments for KRAS-Driven Cancers
By challenging assumptions about how certain KRAS mutations function, the McFall Lab is uncovering new ways to treat some of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers.
Researchers Use Genetic Testing to Identify More Effective Treatments for Advanced Prostate Cancer
Scientists found that platinum-based chemotherapy may help men with advanced prostate cancer who no longer respond to PARP inhibitors, especially those with BRCA2 mutations.
MCW Cancer Center Launches MyeloMATCH to Advance Precision Medicine for Myeloid Cancers
The MCW Cancer Center’s Clinical Trials Office recently activated the phase 2 MyeloMATCH screening study, that tests patients’ blood and bone marrow for biomarkers to guide treatment decisions and match them to personalized clinical trials.
PROTECT-PANC Trial Evaluates Precision Medicine Strategies in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer
The fast-track trial bolsters MCW’s dedication to advancing precision medicine strategies across a spectrum of cancer types.