About Precision Cancer Medicine - DF/BWCC

What is Precision Cancer Medicine?

Precision cancer medicine is an evolving approach to cancer care that aims to leverage new knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of cancer to more precisely target therapy. We now know most or all cancer results from abnormal genes or gene regulation. The cause of these changes can be environmental, such as smoking, spontaneous, such as a result of mutations or changes in genes, or genetic alterations that are inherited. Clinicians at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center (DF/BWCC) are now armed with specialized tests, creating a precise “tumor profile” of genetic changes for each patient’s cancer that makes it possible to identify the most important mutations. The results of these tests can aid us in selecting specific therapeutic agents to precisely treat each individual’s cancer. Learn More

History Timeline

1832

The Pathology Department at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) predecessor hospitals is established

1920

The term "genome" is coined as a hybrid of "gene" and "chromosome"

1947

The Children's Cancer Research Foundation, now Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), introduces the principle of caring for the “whole patient”

1947

Dr. Sydney Farber demonstrates that a drug called aminopterin could put young leukemia patients into remission, ushering in the era of chemotherapy

1973

DFCI receives federal designation as a regional comprehensive cancer center

1976

Institute researchers develop a new treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia that results in complete remissions for half of all patients

1980

Dana-Farber President Baruj Benacerraf, MD, receives the Nobel Prize for work that unveiled the genetic underpinnings of the human immune system

1988

BWH opens its clinical molecular diagnostics laboratory, later to be renamed the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics (CAMD)

1993

DFCI researchers discover MSH2, a gene that increases risk for a common type of colon cancer and is later linked to hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer

1996

Under a joint venture agreement, BWH and DFCI begin to form a unified adult oncology program

1998

The Cytogenetics Laboratory, based at BWH, becomes a consolidated laboratory when DFCI joins it

1999

The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center is established to become the largest comprehensive cancer center in the world

2000

DFCI and the Whitehead Institute pioneer the use of DNA Microarray technology

2001

Reflecting a focus on translational research, the Center for Experimental Medicine at DFCI is established

2001

The first kinase inhibitor (Gleevec) is approved by the FDA as a therapy for CML and is later approved for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)

2002

BWH and DFCI create a new name to describe the fully integrated services they provide for patients: Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center (DF/BWCC)

2003

Human Genome project is complete

2003

DFCI maps out a research strategic plan that creates 14 cross-cutting integrative research centers, complementing the scientific work accomplished through academic departments

2004

DFCI and BWH investigators show that lung cancers carrying a mutation in the gene EFGR respond to treatment with the drug Iressa, ushering in the era of precision oncology for solid organ cancers

2005

Center for Cancer Genome Discovery at DFCI is founded

2005

The NIH’s Cancer Genome Atlas project to build a comprehensive cancer genome characterization begins with DFCI and Harvard Medical School involvement

2005

BWH launches its Biomedical Research Institute, organizing nine disease-focused research centers, including cancer, and five resource and technology-based programs to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration

2005

Development of OncoMap by scientists at DFCI and MIT's Broad Institute enables tissue-testing of cancer biopsies for hundreds of mutations

2006

DFCI and pharma partners identify compound named nilotinib, 20 times more potent than the much-heralded drug Gleevec against CML

2008

BWH opens the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics, bringing together cytogenetics and molecular diagnostics into one state-of-art laboratory, supporting multiple services, including DF/BWCC

2011

Launch of Profile, an ambitious research project that enables all cancer patients from DFCI, BWH, and Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) to have their tumor tissue scanned for cancer-related gene mutations

2013

Launch of OncoPanel, which replaces OncoMap, with an advanced sequencing that can detect not only genetic mutations, but also other critical types of cancer-related DNA alterations

2013

The Center for Cancer Precision Medicine is established to create “precision medicine treatment pathways” for patients with advanced cancers and to speed the development of personalized therapies

2013

More than 5,000 genetic profiles of tumor DNA are completed by the Profile project

History Timeline

1832

The Pathology Department at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) predecessor hospitals is established

1920

The term "genome" is coined as a hybrid of "gene" and "chromosome"

1947

The Children's Cancer Research Foundation, now Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), introduces the principle of caring for the “whole patient”

1947

Dr. Sydney Farber demonstrates that a drug called aminopterin could put young leukemia patients into remission, ushering in the era of chemotherapy

1973

DFCI receives federal designation as a regional comprehensive cancer center

1976

Institute researchers develop a new treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia that results in complete remissions for half of all patients

1980

Dana-Farber President Baruj Benacerraf, MD, receives the Nobel Prize for work that unveiled the genetic underpinnings of the human immune system

1988

BWH opens its clinical molecular diagnostics laboratory, later to be renamed the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics (CAMD)

1993

DFCI researchers discover MSH2, a gene that increases risk for a common type of colon cancer and is later linked to hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer

1996

Under a joint venture agreement, BWH and DFCI begin to form a unified adult oncology program

1998

The Cytogenetics Laboratory, based at BWH, becomes a consolidated laboratory when DFCI joins it

1999

The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center is established to become the largest comprehensive cancer center in the world

2000

DFCI and the Whitehead Institute pioneer the use of DNA Microarray technology

2001

Reflecting a focus on translational research, the Center for Experimental Medicine at DFCI is established

2001

The first kinase inhibitor (Gleevec) is approved by the FDA as a therapy for CML and is later approved for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)

2002

BWH and DFCI create a new name to describe the fully integrated services they provide for patients: Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center (DF/BWCC)

2003

Human Genome project is complete

2003

DFCI maps out a research strategic plan that creates 14 cross-cutting integrative research centers, complementing the scientific work accomplished through academic departments

2004

DFCI and BWH investigators show that lung cancers carrying a mutation in the gene EFGR respond to treatment with the drug Iressa, ushering in the era of precision oncology for solid organ cancers

2005

Center for Cancer Genome Discovery at DFCI is founded

2005

The NIH’s Cancer Genome Atlas project to build a comprehensive cancer genome characterization begins with DFCI and Harvard Medical School involvement

2005

Development of OncoMap by scientists at DFCI and MIT's Broad Institute enables tissue-testing of cancer biopsies for hundreds of mutations

2006

DFCI and pharma partners identify compound named nilotinib, 20 times more potent than the much-heralded drug Gleevec against CML

2008

BWH opens the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics, bringing together cytogenetics and molecular diagnostics into one state-of-art laboratory, supporting multiple services, including DF/BWCC

2011

2013

Launch of OncoPanel, which replaces OncoMap, with an advanced sequencing that can detect not only genetic mutations, but also other critical types of cancer-related DNA alterations

2013

More than 5,000 genetic profiles of tumor DNA are completed by the Profile project

History Timeline

1832

The Pathology Department at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) predecessor hospitals is established

1920

The term "genome" is coined as a hybrid of "gene" and "chromosome"

1947

The Children's Cancer Research Foundation, now Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), introduces the principle of caring for the “whole patient”

1947

Dr. Sydney Farber demonstrates that a drug called aminopterin could put young leukemia patients into remission, ushering in the era of chemotherapy

1973

DFCI receives federal designation as a regional comprehensive cancer center

1976

Institute researchers develop a new treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia that results in complete remissions for half of all patients

1980

Dana-Farber President Baruj Benacerraf, MD, receives the Nobel Prize for work that unveiled the genetic underpinnings of the human immune system

1988

BWH opens its clinical molecular diagnostics laboratory, later to be renamed the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics (CAMD)

1993

DFCI researchers discover MSH2, a gene that increases risk for a common type of colon cancer and is later linked to hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer

1996

Under a joint venture agreement, BWH and DFCI begin to form a unified adult oncology program

1998

The Cytogenetics Laboratory, based at BWH, becomes a consolidated laboratory when DFCI joins it

1999

The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center is established to become the largest comprehensive cancer center in the world

2000

DFCI and the Whitehead Institute pioneer the use of DNA Microarray technology

2001

Reflecting a focus on translational research, the Center for Experimental Medicine at DFCI is established

2001

The first kinase inhibitor (Gleevec) is approved by the FDA as a therapy for CML and is later approved for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)

2002

BWH and DFCI create a new name to describe the fully integrated services they provide for patients: Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center (DF/BWCC)

2003

Human Genome project is complete

2003

DFCI maps out a research strategic plan that creates 14 cross-cutting integrative research centers, complementing the scientific work accomplished through academic departments

2004

DFCI and BWH investigators show that lung cancers carrying a mutation in the gene EFGR respond to treatment with the drug Iressa, ushering in the era of precision oncology for solid organ cancers

2005

Center for Cancer Genome Discovery at DFCI is founded

2005

The NIH’s Cancer Genome Atlas project to build a comprehensive cancer genome characterization begins with DFCI and Harvard Medical School involvement

2005

Development of OncoMap by scientists at DFCI and MIT's Broad Institute enables tissue-testing of cancer biopsies for hundreds of mutations

2006

DFCI and pharma partners identify compound named nilotinib, 20 times more potent than the much-heralded drug Gleevec against CML

2008

BWH opens the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics, bringing together cytogenetics and molecular diagnostics into one state-of-art laboratory, supporting multiple services, including DF/BWCC

2011

2013

Launch of OncoPanel, which replaces OncoMap, with an advanced sequencing that can detect not only genetic mutations, but also other critical types of cancer-related DNA alterations

2013

More than 5,000 genetic profiles of tumor DNA are completed by the Profile project

History Timeline

1832

The Pathology Department at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) predecessor hospitals is established

1920

The term "genome" is coined as a hybrid of "gene" and "chromosome"

1947

The Children's Cancer Research Foundation, now Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), introduces the principle of caring for the “whole patient”

1947

Dr. Sydney Farber demonstrates that a drug called aminopterin could put young leukemia patients into remission, ushering in the era of chemotherapy

1973

DFCI receives federal designation as a regional comprehensive cancer center

1976

Institute researchers develop a new treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia that results in complete remissions for half of all patients

1980

Dana-Farber President Baruj Benacerraf, MD, receives the Nobel Prize for work that unveiled the genetic underpinnings of the human immune system

1988

BWH opens its clinical molecular diagnostics laboratory, later to be renamed the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics (CAMD)

1993

DFCI researchers discover MSH2, a gene that increases risk for a common type of colon cancer and is later linked to hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer

1996

Under a joint venture agreement, BWH and DFCI begin to form a unified adult oncology program

1998

The Cytogenetics Laboratory, based at BWH, becomes a consolidated laboratory when DFCI joins it

1999

The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center is established to become the largest comprehensive cancer center in the world

2000

DFCI and the Whitehead Institute pioneer the use of DNA Microarray technology

2001

Reflecting a focus on translational research, the Center for Experimental Medicine at DFCI is established

2001

The first kinase inhibitor (Gleevec) is approved by the FDA as a therapy for CML and is later approved for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)

2002

BWH and DFCI create a new name to describe the fully integrated services they provide for patients: Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center (DF/BWCC)

2003

Human Genome project is complete

2003

DFCI maps out a research strategic plan that creates 14 cross-cutting integrative research centers, complementing the scientific work accomplished through academic departments

2004

DFCI and BWH investigators show that lung cancers carrying a mutation in the gene EFGR respond to treatment with the drug Iressa, ushering in the era of precision oncology for solid organ cancers

2005

Center for Cancer Genome Discovery at DFCI is founded

2005

The NIH’s Cancer Genome Atlas project to build a comprehensive cancer genome characterization begins with DFCI and Harvard Medical School involvement

2005

Development of OncoMap by scientists at DFCI and MIT's Broad Institute enables tissue-testing of cancer biopsies for hundreds of mutations

2006

DFCI and pharma partners identify compound named nilotinib, 20 times more potent than the much-heralded drug Gleevec against CML

2008

BWH opens the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics, bringing together cytogenetics and molecular diagnostics into one state-of-art laboratory, supporting multiple services, including DF/BWCC

2011

2013

Launch of OncoPanel, which replaces OncoMap, with an advanced sequencing that can detect not only genetic mutations, but also other critical types of cancer-related DNA alterations

2013

More than 5,000 genetic profiles of tumor DNA are completed by the Profile project

How Does Precision Cancer Medicine Work?

how does “The purpose of precision cancer medicine is not to categorize or classify cancers solely by site of origin, but to define the genomic alterations that are driving that cancer,” says Laura MacConaill, PhD, scientific director of the Profile Research Project and scientific director of the Center for Cancer Genome Discovery. “Even if an alteration occurs in a given cancer type only 1 percent of the time, and you can provide an effective treatment option for those specific patients, it’s incredibly enabling and powerful.” Learn More

Why Is Precision Cancer Medicine Important?

why is Each person is unique, and so is his or her cancer. Precision medicine is based on the belief that cancer treatment can be tailored to the genetic makeup of each patient’s cancer cells, and to his or her physiology and medical history. Learn More

The Future of Precision Cancer Medicine

future pcm

As scientific research and computational analysis deepen our understanding of cell biology, we are moving toward the promise of precision cancer medicine. Using next-generation DNA sequencing to thoroughly scan the cancer genome, and large, data-intensive research projects like Profile to better understand the disposition and behavior of cancer cells, the team at DF/BWCC is improving targeted treatments for cancer patients. Learn More

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What is Precision Cancer Medicine?

History Timeline

1832

1920

1947

1947

1973

1976

1980

1988

1993

1996

1998

1999

2000

2001

2001

2002

2003

2003

2004

2005

2005

2005

2005

2006

2008

2011

2013

2013

2013

History Timeline

1832

1920

1947

1947

1973

1976

1980

1988

1993

1996

1998

1999

2000

2001

2001

2002

2003

2003

2004

2005

2005

2005

2005

2006

2008

2011

2013

2013

2013

History Timeline

1832

1920

1947

1947

1973

1976

1980

1988

1993

1996

1998

1999

2000

2001

2001