# Signalomics for molecular tumor boards and precision oncology of breast and gynecological cancers

## TL;DR

Signalomics is a new approach to analyze active cancer pathways in fresh tumors, helping doctors choose better personalized treatments for breast and gynecological cancers.

## Contribution

Introduces Signalomics, a method to assess oncogenic signaling pathways in fresh tumor samples for precision oncology.

## Key findings

- Signalomics identifies overactivated pathways in tumors using transcriptional reporters in primary cells.
- The method validates pathway sensitivity to targeted therapies, offering actionable insights for personalized treatment.
- Integration of Signalomics into molecular tumor boards improves clinical treatment decisions.

## Abstract

Precision oncology led to the establishment and widespread application of molecular tumor boards (MTBs)—multidisciplinary units combining molecular and clinical assessment of individual cancer cases for swift selection of personalized treatments. Whole-exome or gene panel sequencing, combined with transcriptomic, immunohistochemical, and other molecular analyses, often permits dissection of molecular drivers of a tumor and identification of its potential targetable vulnerabilities, instructing clinical oncologists on sometimes unconventional treatment options. However, cancer drivers are often unleashed mutation-independently, especially in breast and gynecological cancers, and deleterious mutations are not always pathogenic. To complement the MTB arsenal, we chart here the molecular toolset we call Signalomics that permits fast and robust assessment of a panel of oncogenic signaling pathways in fresh tumor samples. Using transcriptional reporters introduced in primary tumor cells, this approach identifies the pathways overactivated in a given tumor and validates their sensitivity to targeted therapies, providing actionable insights for personalized treatment strategies. Integration of Signalomics into MTB workflows bridges the gap between molecular profiling and functional pathway analysis, refining clinical treatment decisions and advancing precision oncology.

In this Perspective, the authors propose a new direction for personalized medicine, termed ‘Signalomics,’ which focuses on investigating the activation of a panel of oncogenic signaling pathways in fresh tumor samples.