Early developments in gene-expression profiling of breast tumors: potential for increasing black-white patient disparities in breast cancer outcomes?

Clinical and molecular aspects of breast cancer: Targets and therapies

Breast Cancer is a complex disease characterized by the occurrence of multiple molecular alterations. Currently, some molecular markers are in use for breast cancer diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive purposes. Thus, genetic signatures are available for improving the decision-making. The biomarkers are also essential as therapeutic approaches, but many questions remain due to the lack of efficacy on breast cancer treatment, mainly for triple-negative breast cancer subtype. Since the genetic profile of breast cancer can also be related to different ethnic groups and geographic areas, the reference populations of the genetic assays and clinical trials need to include a broader population beyond the European and North American patients. In this review, we analyzed the current and potential molecular markers that could help to improve the strategies for breast cancer therapy.

Economic Perspectives on Personalized Health Care and Prevention

The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of economic evaluation of personalized medicine, focusing particularly on the use of cost-effectiveness analysis and other methods of valuation. We draw on insights from the literature and our work at the University of California, San Francisco Center for Translational and Policy Research on Personalized Medicine (TRANSPERS). We begin with a discussion of why personalized medicine is of interest and challenges to adoption, whether personalized medicine is different enough to require different evaluation approaches, and what is known about the economics of personalized medicine. We then discuss insights from TRANSPERS research and six areas for future research: Develop and Apply Multiple Methods of Assessing Value Identify Key Factors in Determining the Value of Personalized Medicine Use Real World Perspectives in Economic Analyses Consider Patient Heterogeneity and Diverse Populations in Economic Analyses Prepare for Upcoming Challenges of Assessing Value of Emerging Technologies Incorporate Behavioral Economics into Value Assessments.