The emerging field of precision cancer medicine, in which the use of molecular data at the point of care directly impacts patient treatment and clinical decision-making, has already had a substantial, direct clinical impact on many aspects of medical oncology. The introduction of large-scale genomic technologies at the point of care has catalyzed discoveries in translational oncology and is driving new research that aims to dissect selective responses to targeted, immune-driven therapies and to chemotherapies, as well as identifying novel targets for which therapies are now in development. However, precision cancer medicine remains a promise rather than a solid and robust reality. Although the molecular landscapes of many cancers have been revealed using precision oncology approaches, many of the alterations observed in patients remain undruggable, and viable targets are incompletely characterized. In this conference we will discuss and address current advances, challenges and ignite solutions for the advancement of precision medicine.

The major educational need to be addressed is the professional practice gap in clinicians’ understanding of how molecular diagnostic tests for cancer are developed, their biological basis, and proper role in selection of treatment. The sessions will explore the biological and molecular pathological basis and demonstrate the clinical utility of existing and emerging test systems, as well as address current advances in oncology precision medicine, health informatics, and the role of emerging biomarkers in disease.