“Over the next 25 years, genomic-driven analysis will continue to broaden the impact of personalised medicine in healthcare globally. But the prospect is not all rosy.” With these words ESMO Past President Josep Tabernero makes predictions on what will shape oncology in the next future in Nature Medicine.
To celebrate the end of 25th anniversary year of the publication, it was asked to leaders and experts in different medical fields to answer one question: What will shape the next 25 years of medical research?
According to Tabernero, major advances in oncology will also come from artificial intelligence (AI). “It will help guide the development of individually matched therapies, the harnessing and exchange of big data, and advances in telemedicine to bring crucial medical expertise to more patients everywhere”, he stated.
Regarding the many challenges ahead for medical oncologists, Tabernero’s attention is focused on comorbilities. “I worry about the exacerbating burden of comorbidities in cancer patients”, he pointed out. “Implementation research in the prevention and control of cancer will also be critical, as will be the shaping and strenghtening of cancer policy-making at the global, national and regional levels.”