About Precision Health | Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation

Every patient is different. Traditionally, cancer has been defined and treated based on which body part the cancer started in (such as breast, lung, colon, etc). Scientists have now learned that cancer is a disease of the DNA, and changes in the DNA can cause some breast cancers to look more like an ovarian cancer than other types of breast cancer, for example. Therefore, the most accurate and effective approach to cancer treatment today is to focus on the molecular changes that are causing the cancer to grow and spread, rather than focusing on what body organ it started in. Precision Genomics has a heavy focus on cancer care, but the program extends beyond oncology to include cardiology, neuroscience, and pharmacogenomics.

The potential of precision medicine to improve health for individual patients and larger populations is growing rapidly. Precision Health at Parkview provides scientific support to physicians who treat patients according to their unique DNA profile. The field of precision genomics is advancing and expanding with new scientific discoveries made nearly every day.

Vision

Precision Health aims to target the right clinical care to the right patients at the right time through scientific analysis and research. Parkview strives to become a leader in clinical genomics and genomic research for the benefit of our patients, providers and the scientific community at large.

Mission

Precision Health uses deep scientific expertise to further Parkview’s commitment to the community through the following:

Patient care
The core mission of the Precision Health program is to provide scientific support to Parkview providers and clinicians for individual patients to promote excellent patient outcomes.
Education
The Precision Health team provides educational sessions to Parkview providers and clinicians to ensure that our teams are well-equipped with the most current knowledge about the wide array of available genomic tests and targeted therapies.
Research
The goal of genomic research is to find the relationship between genes (or groups of genes) and the functions of cells and organs in health and disease. The Precision Health program advances healthcare knowledge through scientific analysis of genomic data and referrals for participation in clinical trials.

What is genomic testing?

Genomic testing is a way to identify variations in a person’s genes. Our genes are like a blueprint for our bodies: they provide the instructions to build every cellular process, from the color of our eyes to how quickly our cells divide. Variations in our genes can be thought of as mistakes in the blueprint. Some of these mistakes, or mutations, are inherited from our parents and are present at birth. These inherited mutations can leave us at a higher risk for certain diseases. These mutations are identified through genetic, or genomic, testing; they can tell a physician whether a patient is at risk for developing a certain disease. For example, if a patient inherits a mutation in the BRCA2 gene, they may be at increased risk for developing several types of cancer; if a patient has this mutation, they may need to get mammograms and colonoscopies frequently and at a younger age than people who do not have this mutation. It is also important to note that mutations in other genes can also increase a person’s risk for these types of cancers. If someone considers genetic testing, it is essential to evaluate a variety of genes.

Other mutations develop later in life and are only present in cancer cells, so they cannot be passed to future generations. These acquired mutations can tell us whether a patient may benefit from a specific therapy.

What are some benefits of genomic testing?

Genomic testing is very beneficial for some patients because a “one size fits all” chemotherapy approach is often not effective for some patients. For those who do not respond to standard chemotherapy, genomic testing may provide additional or more effective treatment options.

In addition, genomic testing may tell a patient that they have an increased risk of developing diseases such as cancer or heart disease. In these cases, a cancer may be caught earlier, and the patient may have a better prognosis… or heart disease may be treated earlier, resulting in decreased risk of heart attack.