Precision Oncology
Precision oncology uses molecular biomarkers and functional testing to select treatments based on an individual tumour’s biology. In glioblastoma, this includes biomarker-guided therapy, drug-response testing and technologies designed to improve targeted treatment delivery, although many approaches remain investigational.
Highlighted Papers
AlDoughaim et al., 2024 — Cancer Biomarkers and Precision Oncology: A Review of Recent Trends and Innovations
Reviews how molecular biomarkers support diagnosis, prognosis and treatment selection. It provides a useful general framework for understanding precision oncology.
Struve et al., 2020 — EGFRvIII Upregulates DNA Mismatch Repair Resulting in Increased Temozolomide Sensitivity of MGMT Promoter Methylated Glioblastoma
Shows how EGFRvIII may influence DNA repair and temozolomide sensitivity in MGMT-methylated glioblastoma. The study illustrates how interacting biomarkers may help explain differences in treatment response.
Stevens et al., 2024 — Cellular Mass Response to Therapy Correlates With Clinical Response for a Range of Malignancies
Evaluates a functional assay that measures changes in tumour-cell mass after exposure to treatment. The findings support functional testing as a potential complement to genomic profiling.
Zeyen et al., 2025 — Second-Line Temozolomide in First Recurrent MGMT-Methylated Glioblastoma After Lomustine/Temozolomide: Efficacy and Safety
Examines biomarker-guided temozolomide treatment in patients with recurrent MGMT-methylated glioblastoma. The study reports modest clinical activity with an acceptable safety profile.
Sepulveda et al., 2025 — Azeliragon, a RAGE Inhibitor, in Combination with Temozolomide and Radiotherapy in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: Preliminary Results of Phase Ib/II CAN-201 NDG Trial
Reports preliminary findings for adding the RAGE inhibitor azeliragon to radiotherapy and temozolomide. Early results focus on feasibility and safety, while clinical efficacy remains under investigation.
Further Literature
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AlDoughaim M, AlSuhebany N, AlZahrani M, AlQahtani T, AlGhamdi S, Badreldin H, Al Alshaykh H. (2024): Cancer Biomarkers and Precision Oncology: A Review of Recent Trends and Innovations. Clin Med Insights Oncol. 2024 Nov 17;18:11795549241298541. https://doi.org/10.1177/11795549241298541
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Chen, J., Oberheim Bush, N. A., Grabowsky, et al. (2026): A Genomically Tailored Multiagent Precision Medicine Clinical Trial for Adults with Recurrent Glioblastoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2026 May 1;32(9):1652-1665. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-25-4080
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Huang, L., Dong, Y., Li, J., Yang, X., Li, X., Wu, J., Huang, J., Zhang, Q., Wan, Z., Hu, S., Feng, R., Li, G., Huang, X., Zhang, P. (2025): Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-Targeting Peptides and Their Applications in Tumor Imaging Probe Construction: Current Advances and Future Perspectives. Biology. 2025; 14(8):1011. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14081011
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Jiang, L., Lin, X., Chen, F. et al. (2023): Current research status of tumor cell biomarker detection. Microsyst Nanoeng 9, 123 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-023-00581-5
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Kimmerling, R. J., Stevens, M. M., Olcum, S. et al. (2022): A pipeline for malignancy and therapy agnostic assessment of cancer drug response using cell mass measurements. Commun Biol 5, 1295 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-04270-3
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Przystal, J. M., Becker, H., Canjuga, D. et al. (2021): Targeting CSF1R Alone or in Combination with PD1 in Experimental Glioma. Cancers 13, no. 10: 2400. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13102400
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Sepulveda, J. M. et al. (2025): Azeliragon, a RAGE inhibitor, in combination with temozolomide and radiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma: Preliminary results of phase Ib/II CAN-201 NDG trial.. J Clin Oncol 43, 2069-2069(2025). https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.2069
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Stevens, M. M., Kimmerling, R. J., Olcum, S. , et al. (2024): Cellular Mass Response to Therapy Correlates With Clinical Response for a Range of Malignancies. JCO Precis Oncol. 2024 Jan;8:e2300349. https://doi.org//10.1200/PO.23.00349
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Struve, N., Binder, Z. A., Stead, L. F. et al. (2020): EGFRvIII upregulates DNA mismatch repair resulting in increased temozolomide sensitivity of MGMT promoter methylated glioblastoma. Oncogene 39, 3041–3055 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-020-1208-5
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Zeyen T, Treiber A, Schneider M, Potthoff AL, Schaub C, Roever L, Layer JP, Gkika E, Vatter H, Paech D, Radbruch A, Schaefer N, Herrlinger U, Weller J.(2025): Second-line temozolomide in first recurrent MGMT-methylated glioblastoma after lomustine/temozolomide: Efficacy and safety. Neurooncol Adv. 2025 Apr 28;7(1):vdaf084. https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdaf084
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Zhou, Y., Tao, L., Qiu, J. et al. (2024): Tumor biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and targeted therapy. Sig Transduct Target Ther 9, 132 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-01823-2