Stella Ehi Egege1, Micheal Abimbola Oladosu2*, Moses Adondua Abah3, Bukola Oluwaseyi Olufosoye4 and Chinwe Dolly Udeka5

 1Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the Health Sciences, St. Kitts, West Indies

2Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Anchor University, Lagos, Nigeria.

3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Wukari, Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria

4Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences.

Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

5Department of Pharmacy Technician, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mbash College of Health Sciences and Technology, Abia State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author

Received: Apr 28, 2026/ Revised: May 29, 2026/Accepted: June 5, 2026

Highlights

  • Reviews the role of tumor genomics in advancing precision oncology strategies.
  • Examines targeted therapies including kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and immunotherapies.
  • Highlights the clinical value of genomic profiling and biomarker-driven treatment selection.
  • Evaluates treatment benefits in terms of survival, response rates, and quality of life.
  • Discusses challenges including drug resistance, tumor heterogeneity, and access to genomic testing.

Abstract

Precision oncology represents a paradigm shift in cancer treatment, leveraging tumor genomic profiling to guide therapeutic decisions. The integration of next-generation sequencing technologies has revolutionized our understanding of cancer biology and enabled the development of targeted therapies that specifically address oncogenic driver mutations. This review examines the current landscape of precision oncology, focusing on how targeted therapies based on tumor genomics improve treatment outcomes across various cancer types. We discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying targeted therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The clinical applications of comprehensive genomic profiling, liquid biopsy technologies, and biomarker-driven patient selection are critically evaluated. Furthermore, we explore emerging challenges including acquired resistance mechanisms, tumor heterogeneity, and accessibility issues in resource-limited settings. Recent advances in artificial intelligence-guided drug discovery and combination therapeutic strategies are also highlighted. Evidence demonstrates that genomically-matched targeted therapies significantly improve progression-free survival, overall survival, and quality of life compared to conventional chemotherapy in appropriately selected patients. However, several barriers to widespread implementation persist, including high costs, limited access to molecular diagnostics, and the need for multidisciplinary expertise. This review provides a comprehensive overview of precision oncology’s transformative impact on cancer care and discusses future directions for optimizing treatment outcomes through genomics-guided therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: Precision oncology; Targeted therapy; Tumor genomics; Next-generation sequencing; Biomarkers; Personalized medicine

How to cite this article

Egege, S. E., Oladosu, M. A., Abah, M. A., Olufosoye, B. O., & Udeka, C. D. (2026). Precision oncology: How targeted therapies based on tumor genomics improve treatment outcomes. Science Archives, 7(2), 192–203. https://doi.org/10.47587/SA.2026.7218

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

 

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