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Review
. 2016 Jan;4(2):27.
doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2016.01.16.

Toward precision medicine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Zhang-Yu Zou  1 , Chang-Yun Liu  1 , Chun-Hui Che  1 , Hua-Pin Huang  1
Affiliations
Review

Toward precision medicine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Zhang-Yu Zou et al. Ann Transl Med. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

Precision medicine is an innovative approach that uses emerging biomedical technologies to deliver optimally targeted and timed interventions, customized to the molecular drivers of an individual's disease. This approach is only just beginning to be considered for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The clinical and biological complexities of ALS have hindered development of effective therapeutic strategies. In this review we consider applying the key elements of precision medicine to ALS: phenotypic classification, comprehensive risk assessment, presymptomatic period detection, potential molecular pathways, disease model development, biomarker discovery and molecularly tailored interventions. Together, these would embody a precision medicine approach, which may provide strategies for optimal targeting and timing of efforts to prevent, stop or slow progression of ALS.

Keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); customized therapies; precision medicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Potential molecular pathways of the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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