1Professor and Head, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
3Post Graduate Student, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
*Correspondence: Dr. Shankargouda Patil. Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, MSRIT Post, MSR Nagar, Bengaluru-560 054, Karnataka, India. Email: sbpatil1612@gmail.com
Online published on 18 January, 2019.
Genetic mutations accumulate throughout our lifespan as a result of numerous exogenous and endogenous factors capable of modifying our genetic material. However, the guardians and protector mechanisms of our genome successfully repairs and/or eliminates these mutations rendering them harmless. However, occasionally, these mutations may give rise to tumor or other chronic ailments. For long these mutations, intra-and inter-tumor heterogeneity as well as inter-patient variations toward treatment have been studied, but their clinical applications has been limited. Personalized diagnostics proposes to target the specific individual molecular variations and deliver more precise treatment options to the clinician. The molecular targeted therapies have shown promising results in medical oncology. This review updates its application in the head and neck oncology.
Cancer medicine, cancer sub-types, head and neck cancer, personalised medicine, precision medicine, P4 medicine, single nucleotide polymorphism
