The Latest Advancements in 2018 Medicine: From Precision Medicine to Immunotherapy
Medicine has come a long way over the years. From ancient times when healing was based purely on intuition, to the modern era where scientific evidence dictates treatment, medicine has progressed continuously. In recent times, 2018 to be precise, there have been significant advancements in the field of medicine. This article will take a closer look at two of the most influential developments in medicine in 2018: precision medicine and immunotherapy.
Precision Medicine
Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, is the ultimate goal of medicine. It aims to provide tailored treatments based on an individual’s specific genetic makeup and medical history. With precision medicine, doctors can better predict an individual’s response to medication, their risk of developing a particular disease, and even help prevent diseases by detecting potential risks.
One excellent example of precision medicine in action is in treating cancer. Pathologists can now examine cancerous tumors, determine the specific genetic mutations present in a patient’s cancer, and use that information to select the most effective treatment for that patient’s unique form of cancer.
Immunotherapy
The human immune system is a remarkably powerful tool capable of fighting off attacks from bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. In recent years, scientists have begun to harness the power of the immune system to fight cancer.
Immunotherapy works by boosting the immune system’s response to cancer cells. There are several forms of immunotherapy, including checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell transfer, and monoclonal antibodies.
Checkpoint inhibitors remove a cancer cell’s ability to hide from the immune system. Adoptive cell transfer involves taking immune cells out of the body, modifying them, and then reintroducing them to the body to attack cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies bind to specific components of cancer cells, making them more visible to the immune system.
Conclusion
2018 has been a year of significant advancements in medicine, thanks in large part to the development of precision medicine and immunotherapy. These advancements have the potential to revolutionize how we approach the treatment of disease, particularly in the fields of cancer and autoimmune disorders. With further research and development, precision medicine and immunotherapy could provide a future where the treatments offered by medicine are entirely personalized and based on an individual’s genome and medical history.
