Oncology is the branch of medical science that deals with cancer which is caused when there is an accumulation of mutated genes which goes on multiplying the altered cells that become tumors. Destruction of the gene mutation factor or mutated genes which remains different to different cases is considered the best way to cure the disease which otherwise is also recognised as personalised therapy.

Oncogenomics is a sub-branch of Genomics study that mainly focuses on the gene mutations that lead to the formation of tumour cells. Cancer is caused by accumulation of proliferating DNA mutations in the cells.

The Cancer Cell Map Initiative: Defining the Hallmark Networks of Cancer- Progress in DNA sequencing has revealed the startling complexity of cancer genomes, which typically carry thousands of somatic mutations. Large-scale cancer genomics has further established a baseline that is now poised to affect the translation of cancer genomics into the clinical setting, effectively transforming patient care. The barriers and challenges to translation are significant, not the least of which involves the transition of research-grade computational and interpretational analysis to clinical-grade analysis.

Cancer is a heterogeneous genetic disease, and excisional biopsies provide only a snapshot in time of some of the rapid, dynamic genetic changes occurring in tumours. In addition, excisional biopsies are invasive, can’t be used repeatedly, and are ineffective in understanding the dynamics of tumour progression and metastasis. However, liquid biopsy, or blood sample tests, under development by Epic Sciences can generate actionable information for oncologists by analysing circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and fragments of tumor-cell DNA that are continuously shed by tumors into the bloodstream.

Numerous recent studies have demonstrated the use of genomic data, particularly gene expression signatures, as clinical prognostic factors in cancer and other complex diseases. These studies highlight the opportunity for strategies to achieve truly personalized cancer treatment. Particularly important has been the use of genome-scale gene expression analyses to identify discrete disease classes not previously recognized.

The field of cancer epigenetics is evolving rapidly on several fronts. Advances in our understanding of chromatin structure, histone modification, transcriptional activity and DNA methylation have resulted in an increasingly integrated view of epigenetics. In response to these insights, epigenetic therapy is expanding to include combinations of histone deacetylase inhibitors and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors.

Nanotechnology is increasingly finding use in the management of cancer. Nanoscale devices have affected cancer biology at three levels: early detection using, for example, Nano cantilevers or nanoparticles; tumour imaging using radio contrast nanoparticles or quantum dots; and drug delivery using nanovectors and hybrid nanoparticles.

Nanotheranostics has proved itself effective and efficient in the treatment of several mortal diseases and is proving itself as effective in the treatment of cancer also. The recent advancements in the Nanotheranostics has highlighted the use of personalized medicines and their effectiveness in curing the disease by its interaction with the specific biological systems of different patients. 

Whole Genome Sequencing refers to the complete study of the DNA sequence of an organism at a time in order to find therapeutic cures for genetic disease. The use of whole genome sequencing in cancer is essential in order to find out the mutated chromosomes or genomes that remain the root cause for the disease to have occurred. 

Stems cells basically being the cells with the ability to divide into other cell types or reproduce more of itself when is affected by cancer, it takes the form of haematological cancer. Cancer n stem cells have the capability to renew into different cell types and recreate itself to persist as tumors.

Hormones influence not only breast and prostate cancer, the two most common hormone-dependent cancers, but also have a major impact on less common hormone-sensitive malignancies (e.g. ovary, testes, endometrium) as well as human cancers recently discovered to be hormone sensitive (e.g. lung, liver).

Gene editing is rapidly progressing from being a research/ screening tool to one that promises important applications downstream in drug development, cell therapy and bioprocessing.  Genome editing is now a new trend. The engineered editing system makes use of an enzyme that nicks together DNA with a piece of small RNA that guides the tool to where researchers want to introduce cuts or other changes in the genome

Several recently announced collaborations between academic research institutions and big data analytics vendors powering advanced discovery technologies will bring the power of big data to new studies that may have significant impacts on future therapies and treatments.  With oncology and genomics in the spotlight, personalized medicine is poised to take a leap forward as researchers dive into complex diseases. By analysing data from multiple cancer types, we could evaluate prognostic models and identify gene alterations that led to tumor formation. This wouldn’t have been obtained by looking at tumor data from just one cancer type.

The cell is the basic unit of life. The attainment of a nucleus to house the genetic material is thought to have provided a distinct advantage to the evolving cell, ultimately allowing the emergence of differentiated, specialized cells.  Hoarding evidence suggests that genomes are organized non-randomly into complex 3D configurations that vary according to cell type, stage of development, differentiation and disease status. The principles, which guide higher order organization, the mechanisms responsible for establishment, maintenance and alterations of higher order genome, and the functional consequences of aberrant genome and nuclear organization, have become zones of intense interest.

Genomics has been proving itself as an effective option in treating the disease of cancer and has resulted in an elevation of initiatives from various countries and health organizations around the world in the field of oncogenomics in order to create a healthy world and depriving from the numerous numbers of death that are caused because of being affected by cancer.