Journal of neuro-oncology
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Journal of neuro-oncology · Aug 2017
ReviewEthical considerations of neuro-oncology trial design in the era of precision medicine.
The field of oncology is currently undergoing a paradigm shift. Advances in the understanding of tumor biology and in tumor sequencing technology have contributed to the shift towards precision medicine, the therapeutic framework of targeting the individual oncogenic changes each tumor harbors. ⋯ While these new trials advance the clinical application of increasingly precise and individualized therapies, their design brings ethical challenges. We review the pertinent ethical considerations for clinical trials of precision medicine in neuro-oncology and discuss methods to protect patients in this new era of trial design.