Healthcare with Confidence
For many patients, cancer treatment begins with a standard protocol. However, modern oncology is increasingly moving toward a more precise approach — an individualized treatment protocol based on tumor biology, previous treatment history, and molecular markers that help determine which drugs are most likely to be effective in a particular case. This is the foundation of personalized cancer treatment in Israel.
Cancer is considered a genetic disease in the sense that it develops because of changes in genes that control cell growth and division. Most of these changes occur during life, while only about 10% of cancers are linked to inherited genetic alterations. This is one of the reasons why two patients with the same diagnosis may still require different treatment strategies.
What does “transition to an individualized treatment approach” mean?
A transition to an individualized treatment protocol does not mean random therapy selection or trial-and-error medicine. It means moving from a general treatment algorithm to a more precise strategy built around the tumor’s molecular profile, biomarkers, the patient’s overall condition, and treatment goals.
In modern oncology, this usually begins with:
- expert pathology review
- imaging review (CT, MRI, PET-CT)
- molecular and biomarker testing of the tumor
This helps determine whether the tumor has characteristics that can guide more precise treatment.
This is exactly what lies at the core of precision medicine — an approach in which information about a specific tumor is used to refine diagnosis, estimate prognosis, and select therapies that are more likely to work.
Personalized treatment is no longer only a “last resort”
In the past, personalized oncology was often considered only after standard treatment protocols had failed. Today, this is no longer the full picture.
Genomic and molecular testing is now frequently used at early stages of treatment for many cancers, including:
- lung cancer
- breast cancer
- colorectal cancer
Therefore, personalized cancer treatment in Israel may be important both after standard treatment has been exhausted and from the very beginning — in order to choose the most rational first or next treatment line.
Why molecular profiling is so important
Not every cancer behaves in the same way. Even when two patients have the same tumor type, their cancers may carry different:
- mutations
- gene fusions
- protein markers
- immune-related features
These differences may determine whether a patient is more likely to benefit from:
- targeted therapy
- immunotherapy
- a biomarker-driven clinical trial
The main goal of personalized treatment is not simply to find “more treatment,” but to identify the most appropriate therapy for a specific tumor in a specific patient.
How an individualized treatment protocol is built
The first stage is a careful expert review of the diagnosis. This usually includes:
- pathology report
- stage of disease
- imaging findings
- previous surgeries
- prior drug treatments
- tumor response to therapy
- side effects
After this, tumor biomarker testing or molecular profiling is often recommended.
These studies may include:
- single biomarker analysis
- multigene panels
- tumor mutational burden assessment
- protein marker evaluation
Some tests analyze genes, while others evaluate proteins or additional molecular signals that influence treatment choice.
Once results are available, doctors assess whether they open a real treatment path, such as:
- targeted therapy
- immunotherapy
- antibody-drug conjugates
- clinical trial options
In some cases, these tests also function as companion diagnostics — tests required before prescribing a specific drug.
Tissue testing, liquid biopsy, and advanced genomic panels
There is no single test suitable for every patient.
- If tumor tissue is available: Tissue Panels are used.
- If biopsy is difficult or unsafe: Liquid Biopsy from blood may be recommended.
Depending on the case, doctors may use:
- multigene panels
- Whole Exome Sequencing (WES)
- Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)
This is why personalized oncology is not only about testing — it is about choosing the right test for the right patient at the right moment.
Personalized treatment can change drug selection
One of the most important advances in oncology today is that some therapies are selected not only by tumor type but also by biomarker.
Examples include:
- MSI-H / dMMR
- NTRK fusion
- RET fusion
- TMB-high
- BRAF V600E
- HER2-positive
This explains why molecular testing in Israel often becomes a key step when moving from a standard treatment protocol to an individualized one.
Personalized treatment is not always experimental therapy
It is important for patients to understand that an individualized treatment protocol does not automatically mean experimental treatment.
In many cases it means:
- more precise use of already approved drugs
- avoiding ineffective therapy
- reducing toxicity
- saving time and resources
Sometimes testing shows that a certain treatment is unlikely to help — and that is also extremely valuable information.
The role of clinical trials in personalized oncology
Clinical trials remain an important part of personalized treatment, especially when:
- cancer has spread
- relapse has occurred
- standard therapy has stopped working
- the tumor is rare
Today, many clinical trials are selected according to the molecular characteristics of the tumor.
Personalized cancer treatment in Israel today
Modern oncology in Israel combines:
- molecular diagnostics
- multidisciplinary tumor board review
- molecular oncology boards
- precision-guided treatment decisions
Leading Israeli centers use:
- Panel molecular sequencing
- Whole Exome Sequencing (WES)
- Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)
- Plasma-based molecular analysis (liquid biopsy)
This means that a second opinion in Israel today is not only about asking:
“What is the next chemotherapy line?”
It is also about asking:
“Can the tumor be defined more precisely, can a target be identified, and can a more effective strategy be selected?”
Tumor testing is different from inherited genetic testing
Patients often confuse these two concepts.
- Tumor testing: looks for changes inside the tumor itself.
- Inherited genetic testing: looks for germline mutations that may run in families.
Sometimes tumor testing results suggest that inherited testing should also be considered.
Who benefits most from transition to an individualized treatment protocol?
This approach is especially important for patients whose:
- cancer has spread
- relapse has occurred
- standard treatment has stopped working
- pathology needs clarification
- several treatment directions are possible
Personalized cancer treatment in Israel: summary
Personalized cancer treatment in Israel means using tumor biology to build a more precise treatment strategy.
It may include:
- pathology review
- biomarker testing
- tissue biopsy or liquid biopsy
- genomic profiling
- companion diagnostics
- molecular tumor board discussion
For some patients, this confirms the current treatment plan. For others, it opens the way to a more accurate and more effective individualized protocol.
If you want to understand whether it is possible to move from standard treatment to personalized cancer treatment in Israel, the first step is usually expert review of:
- biopsy blocks
- imaging
- previous treatment history
- molecular results
Need a personalized cancer treatment roadmap in Israel?
Send your medical files for expert review and find out whether the following may be relevant in your case:
- molecular profiling
- targeted therapy
- immunotherapy
- biomarker-driven clinical trial
⇒ Molecular Oncotests for precision cancer treatment in Israel – Expert Review
Additional information about precision cancer treatment in Israel:
⇒ Personalized treatment for breast cancer
⇒ Personalized bowel cancer treatment
⇒ Personalized lung cancer treatment
⇒ Personalized treatment for ovarian cancer
