From expanding actionability to functional precision: Gene Solutions’ next chapter in precision oncology
Dr. Sinh Nguyen Duy (Gene Solutions, Vietnam) looked beyond current capabilities to the next chapter of precision oncology—motivated by a persistent gap: many cancers still lack actionable treatment pathways even when molecular alterations are detected. He articulated the ambition clearly: “In the oncology community, we expect that at least 90 percent or ideally 100 percent of patients can receive targeted therapy or immunotherapy in the future.”
To address this, Gene Solutions is advancing a multi-omics approach that integrates DNA and RNA analysis. Dr. Sinh emphasized that improving detection is the first step, noting that combining DNA profiling and RNA sequencing enhances the ability to identify gene fusions and transcriptional changes often missed by DNA alone. Building on this, the K‑4CARE MAX platform represents an advancement by linking molecular insights to support both immunotherapy strategies and more precise targeted therapy selection. As he described, “The K‑4CARE MAX test has several important applications, including broader assessment of tumor mutational burden (TMB), tumor neoantigen burden (TNB), and key features of the tumor microenvironment. Together, these insights can help guide both immunotherapy strategies and more precise targeted treatment decisions” By predicting neoantigen expression and immune context, K‑4CARE MAX supports the development of personalized vaccines and cell therapies. This is especially important given a key limitation in cancer biology: “most cancer cells do not express neoantigens on the surface.” Therefore, identifying and inducing these immunogenic signals becomes central to next-generation cancer treatment.
While multi‑omics expands detection and prediction, Dr. Sinh emphasized that molecular prediction alone is not sufficient to guide treatment decisions in all cases. This is where Functional Precision Medicine (FPM) becomes critical. “The most accurate prediction in precision oncology still depends on functional models of living cells.” he said, highlighting the importance of validating genomic findings in a biological context. Our research team aim to address this unmet need through the development of 3D organoid models, where tumor cells derived from individual patients are cultured and exposed to different therapies to directly observe response. In real-world application, Gene Solutions’ organoid platform has shown the ability to evaluate drug sensitivity across multiple therapeutic options, particularly in cases where genomic profiling alone does not yield clear actionable targets. These models allow clinicians to distinguish between biologically active disease and residual, non-viable tissue—complementing ctDNA and imaging results. For example, in scenarios where ctDNA remains detectable but imaging appears stable, organoid testing can provide more evidence of functional resistance or sensitivity, guiding treatment escalation or modification. By integrating genomic, transcriptomic, and functional data, FPM transforms precision oncology into a more adaptive and individualized system, reducing uncertainty and with potential to improve decision-making especially in complex cases.
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