«The National network of precision medicine in oncology, a pioneering action that was established at the initiative of the research and innovation Sector of the Ministry of Education, Research and religious affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, starts in Greece with immediate aim To upgrade the diagnosis, predict the outcome and the targeted treatment of cancer patients. The network will offer high quality health diagnostic services based on NGS Technologies, while research actions will be conducted to highlight new biomarkers «they stressed in an interview with» the», Kostas Stamatopoulos, coordinator of National Medical Precision Network and the researcher of Ινab Anastasia Chatzidimitriou, head of the Technical Committee of the Network.
They also stressed «the concept of medical precision – both in terms of prevention and in terms of treatment, based on the individual characteristics of patients, is not new. The blood group, for example, has been the guide of transfusion blood for more than a century. Recently, the prospect of greater application of precision medicine has evolved into a very Largely with the development of new methodologies for bioanalysis, especially powerful new generation technologies for sequencing DNA (Next generation sequencing, NGS) and computational tools and approaches for the analysis of high-volume biodata.
The concept of medical precision – both in terms of prevention and in terms of treatment, based on the individual characteristics of patients, is not new. The blood group, for example, has been the guide of transfusion blood for more than a century. Recently, the prospect of greater application of precision medicine has evolved to a great extent with the development of new methodologies for bioanalysis, especially powerful new generation technologies for sequencing DNA (Next generation sequencing, NGS) and Computational tools and approaches for the analysis of high-volume biodata».
Q: What opportunities emerge in the health sector for Greece with the establishment of the National medical precision Network?
Α: Kostas Stamatopoulos: For the first time specialised units from research and academic institutions of the country in close cooperation with clinical units of excellence in the broader field of cancer (oncology, hematology) will be approached in a coordinated manner the key issue of modern Gene analysis which is a foundation for individualized treatment, as it highlights the specific characteristics of cancer cells in each individual patient. This initiative will allow Greece to participate actively in shaping the Charter of Medicine of the future to collaborate equally in international partnerships, promoting research in the treatment of cancer.
Q: Can you report the most important benefits that arise for patients with the operation of the network?
Α: Kostas Stamatopoulos: The choice of treatment based on the specific genetic damage of cancer cells of each patient implies greater efficacy and fewer side effects: This translates into a better outcome and better quality of life. Also, the collection of information from the analysis of many patients will support the discovery of new knowledge that can be used in biomedical research in order to better understand cancer and develop new therapies.
The national network of precision medicine in oncology should and can help decisively to strengthen the links between biomedical research and clinical medicine. This interface will upgrade the provided health services while creating new possibilities and perspectives of cross-thematic research with significant implications for the knowledge economy in our country and internationally.
Α: Anastasia Chatzidimitriou: Personally I would like the network to function as a platform for daily dialogue of the research institutions of the country with the clinical departments and the daily clinical practice. To ensure the best possible care for cancer patients and the rational management of KRTAIKWN resources.
Q: What is the level of proficiency in Greece to bring out the dynamics of personalised medicine?
Α: Anastasia Chatzidimitriou: All the institutions that participate in the medical precision network now have the technological capacity and the means to prepare the genetic examinations, which the initiative has promised as a provision Services to cancer patients. Of course, in the first six months of operation of the network will be standardised all the procedures from the initial processing of the sample to the final report of the result so that we speak exactly the same language.
Q: Where are the network’s collaborations today with corresponding initiatives?
Α: Anastasia Chatzidimitriou: The network already cooperates with corresponding European actions. There is close cooperation with the National programme in Sweden (Genomic Medicine Sweden) in the field of hematological malignancies. Joint actions are also planned directly with other international initiatives/networks (e.g. Alliance Against Cancer in Italy) and bodies active in precision medicine in many European countries (Spain, Czech Republic, Serbia, Cyprus, Hungary).
Hope in battle against cancer
