Open AccessHow Comparative Effectiveness Research Can Help Advance ‘Personalized Medicine’ In Cancer Treatment
Author(s) -
Scott D. Ramsey,
David L. Veenstra,
Sean Tunis,
Louis P. Garrison,
John Crowley,
Laurence H. Baker
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
health affairs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.837
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 2694-233X
pISSN - 0278-2715
DOI - 10.1377/hlthaff.2010.0637
Subject(s) - personalized medicine , biomarker , precision medicine , cancer treatment , medicine , comparative effectiveness research , process (computing) , cancer , risk analysis (engineering) , alternative medicine , business , computer science , bioinformatics , pathology , chemistry , biochemistry , biology , operating system
The use of biomarkers to "personalize" cancer treatment--identifying discrete genes, proteins, or other indicators that can differentiate one type of cancer from another and enable the use of highly tailored therapies--offers tremendous potential for improved outcomes and lower treatment costs. However, the rapid development of cancer biomarker, or genomic, tests--combined with a paucity of evidence to support the effectiveness of the tests--presents a challenge for patients, clinicians, and other stakeholders. In this article we propose that comparative effectiveness research be used to strengthen what is now a haphazard process for developing and marketing cancer biomarker tests. We suggest novel funding approaches and a systematic process for moving from regulatory approval to the generation of evidence that meets the needs of stakeholders and, ultimately, patients.