Introduction to Molecular Tumor Boards and Precision Oncology

Modern cancer care is rapidly moving toward precision medicine, where treatment is tailored to the genetic profile of an individual tumor. Understanding how clinical teams collaborate in a Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) is essential for anyone entering the fields of oncology, genomics, or healthcare. This comprehensive text-only course guides you through the foundational concepts of precision oncology, genomic alterations, and the collaborative decision-making process of an MTB. You will learn how genomic sequencing reports are interpreted and how genetic variants are matched with targeted therapies. What you'll learn: - Understand the fundamental role and structure of a Molecular Tumor Board in clinical settings - Analyze genomic alteration types, including somatic mutations, copy number variations, and gene fusions - Navigate modern genomic databases and clinical knowledgebases to interpret variant significance - Match specific genetic alterations with approved targeted therapies and active clinical trials - Explore the clinical utility of liquid biopsies and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patient monitoring - Evaluate clinical case studies through written scenarios to understand therapeutic decision-making The course starts with key terminology and the basic biological principles of cancer genomics. From there, you will progress through the workflow of variant interpretation, clinical database navigation, and the collaborative process of formulating treatment recommendations. Designed for healthcare students, junior clinicians, researchers, and life science professionals new to oncology genomics, this course requires no advanced prior knowledge of bioinformatics. Start reading today to build your foundational knowledge in precision cancer medicine.