For many years, cancer treatment followed a one-size-fits-all approach regardless of the patient’s genetic composition, disease attributes, or response to treatment. Today, that approach is changing. This is especially true in gynaecological cancers such as ovarian and endometrial cancer, where advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical oncology are helping doctors tailor therapy to each patient’s molecular profile. As a result, treatment decisions are becoming more personalised, with biomarker testing emerging as a critical component of modern cancer care.
Biomarker testing involves examining a tumour or a person's genes for specific characteristics that can provide important information about the cancer. This information can support more informed decisions and help identify treatment approaches that may be most suitable for an individual patient. However, the benefits of advances such as biomarker testing can only be realised when women are diagnosed early and have timely access to specialist care.
A new era in gynaecological cancer care
This is where biomarker testing plays a pivotal role. By analysing the tumour's molecular profile, biomarker testing helps oncologists understand how the cancer is likely to behave and identify treatment strategies that are best suited to the individual patient.
In ovarian cancer, tests such as BRCA and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing provide valuable information for treatment planning. BRCA testing can also identify inherited cancer risk, enabling discussions around genetic counselling and testing for family members where relevant.
Similarly, in endometrial cancer, molecular testing is transforming the way the disease is assessed and managed. Biomarkers such as POLE mutations, mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), and p53 alterations help classify tumours into distinct molecular subtypes. This information provides important insights into prognosis and treatment response, allowing clinicians to develop more personalised treatment plans.
Empowering patients through informed decisions
Ultimately, biomarker testing is changing the conversation from a general approach to one centred on precision medicine. It enables more informed discussions between patients and their healthcare teams and helps ensure that treatment decisions are guided by the unique biology of each person's cancer.
For women diagnosed with ovarian or endometrial cancer, discussing available biomarker testing options with a specialist can be an important step towards understanding the full range of treatment possibilities and receiving care that is tailored to their individual disease.
The author is a medical oncologist at Tata Memorial Centre, Varanasi.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
