Personalized medicine is a medical model that emphasizes and bases its application on understanding and using an individual’s personal information. This information includes details about genes, proteins, environmental surroundings during diagnosis, prevention, and in choosing and administering treatments. “Today, when people refer to “Personalized Medicine,” it is generally in the context of using genomics, the science of looking at all the information in the human genome, to tailor medical care to individuals based on their genetic makeup” (Chisholm, 2008). Three areas of technology are the key to making personalized medicine present in our healthcare system. One area involves new tools to decode the human genome (Personalized Medicine: A Vision for a Positive Effect on Healthcare). By mapping this, new approaches have been taken to understand and treat disease. “Cancer and cardiovascular disease are two areas in which genomics are showing promise for treatment advances, although challenges remain” (Personalized Medicine: How Will It Affect Patients?, 2011). The second key area would be to use large-scale studies that help link genetic variation to disease. We would also need “a healthcare technology information system that supports integration of clinical data” (Personalized Medicine: A Vision for a Positive Effect on Healthcare). This would enable physicians to keep track of patient care, to tailor treatment. Breast cancer has been a medical concern for years, and we have been doing massive research and testing with the hope of finding better treatments and/or a cure. With advances in genetic medicine and technology, we have been able to develop individualized treatment for women with breast cancer. A woman, who is developing breast cancer, has a greater risk if she inherits a harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. “With that discovery in hand, scientists have developed a specific test to detect the mutations and a treatment that can be tailored to address those at high risk” (Cerrato, 2012). The downside to this is that it may only benefit a very small percentage of breast cancer patients. Leukemia is another disease in which scientists, researchers and medical professionals have done extensive research, studies and testing. In a study by comparing normal B-cells to B-cells of patients with this disease, Leukemia patients were observed. They found key differences between both cell types. Researchers, through having the sequence of the human genome and knowing what genes were present in DNA, produced a “gene chip”. By using this approach, “two distinct gene expression signatures were observed in different leukemia patients, leading to the conclusion that rather than being a single disease, the patients with different signatures had different diseases” (Chisholm, 2008). “Tuberculosis is a major cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 9.4 million cases and 1.7 million deaths in 2009” (Best Treatment for TB Patients Could be Determined by "Goldilocks" Gene, 2012). Tuberculosis is an infectious disease where an individual’s genetic profile can determine which drug would best for them. Researchers looked at how variations in DNA code could change different biological pathways, leading to either too much or too little inflammation. Either way, allowed the tuberculosis bacteria to thrive and multiply. The right level of inflammatory response can be restored by blocking the appropriate biological pathway. “Depending on what versions of LTA4H gene you have inherited, you could see an inflammatory response to tuberculosis that is “too much”, “too little”, or “just right”. You are likely to benefit most from a treatment tailored to your own genes” (Best Treatment for TB Patients Could be Determined by "Goldilocks" Gene, 2012). Personalized medicine along with modern genetic technology would enable physicians, scientists, and researchers to have a better understanding of how genetic makeup could affect how individuals can receive treatment for diseases. This can help to minimize side effects, and to create a strategy for a more successful outcome of medical treatment. “Personalized medicine, when used correctly, aims to guide tests that detect variation in the way individual patients metabolize various pharmaceuticals. Personalized medicine is working to help determine the right dose for a patient, helping to avoid hazards based on family history, environmental influences, and genetic variation” (Personalized Medicine: A Vision for a Positive Effect on Healthcare). Personalized medicine although it has great power to help, there is also the “power to harm, and patients and the public deserve a rigorous evaluation of what scientists bring to the table” (Khoury, Evans, & Burke, 2010). There are insightful challenges to personalized medicine. Abnormal results may be produced in those tested through whole genome sequencing. Some results may be positive, false positives and false negatives. Some results may be useless, and may prove harmful (Khoury, Evans, & Burke, 2010). Another negative aspect about personalized medicine is that it may lead to genetic discrimination by insurers and employers. Those with genetic combinations that may seem life threatening may have increased insurance premiums. Personalized medicine may be expensive overall, due to being in the research and development phase. Despite the disadvantages and limitations of personalized medicine, many patients, scientists, researchers, and physicians agree that personalized medicine along with modern genetic technology will be highly beneficial in health care delivery. “The future belongs to personalized medicine and health IT will play an important role in making it a reality” (Cerrato, 2012). References
Best Treatment for TB Patients Could be Determined by "Goldilocks" Gene. (2012). Medical News Today.
Cerrato, P. (2012). Is Personalized Medicine In Your Future? Information Week .
Chisholm, R. L. (2008). What is Personalized Medicine? Science in Society .
Khoury, M. J., Evans, J., & Burke, W. (2010, April 1). A reality check for personalized medicine. Nature.
Personalized Medicine: A Vision for a Positive Effect on Healthcare. (n.d.). Retrieved from Personalized Medicine: http://www.personalizedmedicine.com
Personalized Medicine: How Will It Affect Patients? (2011). Science Daily .