Precision Medicine in Oncology: Glossary of Relevant Scientific Terms

The conventional oncological approach was defined in the past as “one size fits all” and the tumors were treated according to the localization and the histopathological features. One of the future challenges in the field of oncology is the integration of translational research and technology innovation, in order to clarify unexplored aspects of the biology and the genetics of tumors, to develop a personalized treatment based on the molecular characteristics of the patient and his disease, that is the principle of precision medicine. New multidisciplinary teams are needed to ensure the integration of different professional profiles, including oncologists, pharmacologists, geneticians, and pathologists. In the new era of Precision Oncology, the nomenclature is fundamental, therefore we report here a glossary that might be useful to the clinical, basic, and applied research specialists.