Molecular tumor board in uro-oncology-from apathologist's view

Abstract

Besides evidence- and guideline-based tumor therapy, personalized targeted therapies within study settings or individual experimental settings in advanced cancers without further therapeutic options are emerging. Acomprehensive molecular analysis of the tumor in amolecular pathology laboratory is important for all targeted therapy approaches. However, the interpretation of the molecular results is crucial and potential therapeutic conclusions can only be drawn by considering the clinical situation and within asetting of oncological experience. Therefore, the molecular results and their potential impact have to be discussed at amolecular tumor board, an interdisciplinary expert team consisting of clinicians, oncologists, (molecular) pathologists, systems physicians, study teams and where required geneticists. If the molecular tumor board decides atargeted therapeutic approach is appropriate, patients should be enrolled in studies or registries with controlled settings and documentation in order to evaluate the therapeutic concepts. Furthermore, molecular-based individual experimental therapies are possible within extreme clinical situations.