Oncology in the Era of Targeted Therapy and Immuno-Oncology MTA
Translating molecular profiling into personalized cancer treatment plans

About this book:

*Oncology in the Era of Targeted Therapy and Immuno-Oncology* explores the fundamental shift from traditional "one-size-fits-all" cytotoxic treatments to a precision medicine paradigm. The book begins by establishing the molecular biology of cancer, detailing the hallmarks of malignancy and the roles of oncogenes, tumor suppressors, and signaling pathways. It provides a technical foundation in tumor genomics, specifically focusing on the mechanics of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and the critical importance of high-quality specimen acquisition and pathology integration to ensure accurate molecular reporting.

The text delves into diverse therapeutic modalities, contrasting small-molecule inhibitors that target intracellular kinase domains with monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that address extracellular targets. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to immuno-oncology, covering the mechanisms of immune checkpoint blockade (PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4), as well as advanced cellular therapies like CAR T-cells, TILs, and bispecific T-cell engagers. It highlights essential biomarkers—such as EGFR, ALK, BRAF, HER2, and NTRK, alongside immune-specific signals like MSI/dMMR and TMB—that guide therapy selection across solid and hematologic malignancies.

A practical clinical focus is maintained through disease-specific chapters covering lung, breast, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and skin cancers. The book emphasizes the management of unique toxicity profiles, including targeted therapy-related dermatologic issues and the complex spectrum of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). It also addresses the inevitable challenge of therapeutic resistance, advocating for rational combination strategies (such as combining targeted agents with immunotherapy) and the use of liquid biopsies for real-time monitoring of tumor evolution.

The final sections move beyond drug mechanisms to address the broader infrastructure of precision care. The authors discuss the role of multidisciplinary molecular tumor boards, computational decision support, and the ethical necessity of shared decision-making. The book concludes by addressing systemic issues of equity, access, and value, while peering into the "next frontier" of oncology: the integration of multi-omics, spatial biology, and artificial intelligence to create a truly predictive and proactive model for individualized cancer treatment.

What You'll Find Inside:

• The book explains how to translate molecular profiling data (from tissue and liquid biopsies) into clinically actionable, personalized cancer treatment plans across multiple tumor types.
• It provides comprehensive coverage of both targeted therapies (small-molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, ADCs) and immuno-oncology approaches (checkpoint inhibitors, cellular therapies), including mechanisms, biomarkers, and clinical applications.
• It addresses critical practical aspects such as specimen acquisition, pathology integration, NGS principles, resistance mechanism management, and toxicity recognition/management for precision therapies.
• It offers disease-specific guidance for precision oncology applications in lung, breast, melanoma, GI, GU, and hematologic malignancies, with case-based vignettes illustrating real-world decision-making.
• It examines systemic factors affecting precision medicine implementation, including equity and access challenges, value assessment, molecular tumor boards, and emerging frontiers like multi-omics and AI.

Who's It For:

This book is designed for medical oncologists, oncology fellows and residents, and multidisciplinary cancer care teams (including pathologists, surgeons, radiologists, and pharmacists) who are involved in delivering precision cancer care. It will be particularly valuable for clinicians seeking to confidently interpret molecular profiles, select appropriate targeted and immunotherapies, manage resistance and toxicities, and implement personalized treatment plans across diverse tumor types while addressing real-world challenges of access and equity.