Biomarker-Guided Cancer Therapy: Choosing the Right Treatment for the Right Patient

Cancer treatment is becoming more personalised as doctors learn more about the biology of each tumour. Instead of giving the same chemotherapy to every patient, oncologists use biomarkers, measurable signals found in tumour tissue or blood, to guide treatment decisions. These markers help identify which medicines are most likely to work for a specific patient and which treatments can be safely avoided.

In common cancers such as breast, lung and colorectal cancer, biomarkers already play a key role in everyday care. They help doctors decide when to use targeted therapies or immunotherapy and, in some early breast cancers, when chemotherapy adds little benefit. This approach can improve treatment effectiveness while sparing patients unnecessary side effects.

Blood-based tests that detect tumour DNA are increasingly used to find treatable mutations when a biopsy is difficult, and are being studied for monitoring treatment and detecting relapse earlier. For patients, biomarker-guided therapy means more informed treatment choices and a care plan tailored to their individual cancer.