Precision Oncology Program Launches Study Protocol
On March 26, 2025, BMJ Open published the study protocol for the Precision Oncology Program (POP), a collaborative initiative led by the University Hospital Zurich, the University of Zurich, and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. The POP aims to evaluate the potential of integrating real-world data (RWD) and imaging mass cytometry (IMC) into clinical decision-making for cancer patients.
The study leverages patient-matched cohorts from a large US-based clinicogenomic database and spatial proteomics analysis to generate personalized, data-driven treatment insights. These insights are reviewed by the Molecular Tumor Board at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich but remain nonprescriptive to maintain the study’s observational nature.
By focusing on complex cases beyond standard treatment pathways, POP seeks to demonstrate how RWD and IMC can guide therapeutic strategies, particularly in rare cancers and advanced-stage disease. This initiative underscores DQBM's commitment to pioneering interdisciplinary research in personalized medicine.
