Published online Jul 28, 2017. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i28.5045
Peer-review started: March 23, 2017
First decision: April 10, 2017
Revised: April 15, 2017
Accepted: June 1, 2017
Article in press: June 1, 2017
Published online: July 28, 2017
Processing time: 127 Days and 18.5 Hours
Precision medicine, currently a hotspot in mainstream medicine, has been strongly promoted in recent years. With rapid technological development, such as next-generation sequencing, and fierce competition in molecular targeted drug exploitation, precision medicine represents an advance in science and technology; it also fulfills needs in public health care. The clinical translation and application of precision medicine - especially in the prevention and treatment of tumors - is far from satisfactory; however, the aims of precision medicine deserve approval. Thus, this medical approach is currently in its infancy; it has promising prospects, but it needs to overcome numbers of problems and deficiencies. It is expected that in addition to conventional symptoms and signs, precision medicine will define disease in terms of the underlying molecular characteristics and other environmental susceptibility factors. Those expectations should be realized by constructing a novel data network, integrating clinical data from individual patients and personal genomic background with existing research on the molecular makeup of diseases. In addition, multi-omics analysis and multi-discipline collaboration will become crucial elements in precision medicine. Precision medicine deserves strong support, and its development demands directed momentum. We propose three kinds of impetus (research, application and collaboration impetus) for such directed momentum toward promoting precision medicine and accelerating its clinical translation and application.
Core tip: Precision medicine aims toward accurate, efficient and effective diagnostic testing and precise treatment. Emerging techniques and therapeutic drugs based on molecular profiling and genomic characteristics will help achieve that goal. Next-generation sequencing is the most frequently used methodology for precision medicine applications; however, proteomics and metabolomics tests are growing in accuracy and ease of use. In terms of applications and outcomes, the benefits conferred by precision medicine are currently insufficient. Present development of precision medicine lacks order. Therefore, precision medicine needs strong support to develop, and a directed momentum is required. We suggest three kinds of impetus (research, application and collaboration impetus) for such directed momentum toward promoting precision medicine and accelerating its clinical translation and application.