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Personalized medicine: an individual approach to treatment and diagnosis
Why the “average patient” is no longer appropriate
In the 20th century, medicine was focused on the average person. Treatment protocols were designed to work «most of the time.» But the 21st century is the age of data, molecular biology, and artificial intelligence. We now know: each person has a unique set of genes, enzymes, immune responses, and even bacteria, living in her body. It is on this uniqueness that personalized medicine is based - a new approach to the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases.
The essence and key principles of personalized medicine
Personalized (or precision) medicine is not just about DNA testing or drug selection. It integrated approach, which takes into account:
genetic characteristics (mutations, polymorphisms)
biomarkers (levels of proteins, enzymes, hormones)
epigenetic changes
lifestyle data (nutrition, sleep, stress)
functional state of the microbiota
These parameters are analyzed in a complex manner - and based on them, individual treatment or prevention plans are formed.
Comparison of traditional and personalized medicine
| Criterion | Traditional medicine | Personalized medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment approach | According to general protocols | Individualized approach |
| Taking genetics into account | Missing | Yes, based on the patient's genome |
| Risk forecasting | Total, by age/gender | Based on DNA analysis, family history |
| Response to treatment | Often unpredictable | Predicted by pharmacogenetic profiles |
| Application examples | Infections, hypertension | Oncology, psychiatry, endocrinology |
Official sources of support
The WHO notes that personalized medicine is critical in effective prevention and reducing ineffective treatment. WHO documents highlight the potential of genetic screenings to combat chronic noncommunicable diseases.
The FDA has approved dozens of drugs that are used only after genetic test (e.g., targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer).
Mayo Clinic has implemented a Center for Personalized Medicine, which uses pharmacogenetics, DNA testing, and AI to select treatments in real time.
Specific clinical examples
Young woman with BRCA1 mutation receives a personalized surveillance plan that includes MRI every 6 months and preventive surgery - cancer is detected at the "in situ" stage, without metastases.
A man with a heart attack at the age of 40 has a mutation in the MTHFR gene, which affects folic acid metabolism. Instead of standard therapy, he is prescribed methylated forms of vitamins - the risk of repeated thrombosis is reduced.
Children with epilepsy They do exome sequencing — a rare form of genetic syndrome is discovered that does not respond to classic medications. A new drug is prescribed as indicated, and the seizures disappear.
Personalized medicine in Ukraine
Ukrainian clinics and laboratories already have the following available:
Genetic panels for hereditary forms of cancer, heart disease, neurological syndromes
Pharmacogenetics (CYP2D6, CYP2C19, SLCO1B1 tests)
Advanced Prenatal Testing (NIPT) Panels
Postnatal screenings for over 300 diseases
Ukraine is gradually integrating personalized medicine into the state system, especially in oncology centers, reproductive medicine, and private pediatrics.
What technologies provide this?
NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) — sequencing thousands of genes in 1 day
Biochips and microarrays — detection of hundreds of mutations in one test
Big Data analytics — processing data on millions of patients to find patterns
AI solutions — algorithms for predicting treatment effectiveness
Medical platforms — integration of data from EMC, sensors, laboratories
Personalized medicine develops not only treatment, but also the culture of the medical approach. It teaches us to see the patient not just as a set of symptoms, but as an entire biological universe to which we need to find the right key. This is the essence of the new medical era.
