By Rajasri Chandra, MS, MBA
This article explores the latest advancements in oncology, highlighting how innovations in diagnostics and treatment are transforming cancer care. With more than two million new cancer cases projected in the United States in 2025, the article reviews current epidemiology, mechanisms of cancer development, and modern diagnostic tools including laboratory testing, molecular analysis, imaging, artificial intelligence, endoscopy, and tissue and liquid biopsies. It also examines emerging therapies such as precision oncology, targeted treatments, immunotherapies, and CAR-T cells, emphasizing how technological progress is driving more personalized, effective, and less toxic cancer management strategies.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this article, the reader will be able to:
- List the epidemiological statistics on current cancer rates and deaths in the United States.
- Define how cancer is diagnosed.
- Discuss laboratory testing, artificial intelligence, endoscopic exams, molecular testing, and biopsies as they relate to cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- List new innovations in the evolution of cancer treatment.
Rajasri Chandra, MS, MBA is a global marketing leader with expertise in managing upstream, downstream, strategic, tactical, traditional, and digital marketing in biotech, in vitro diagnostics, life sciences, and
pharmaceutical industries. Raj is an orchestrator of go-to-market strategies driving complete product life cycle from ideation to commercialization.
Course Includes
- 1 Lesson
- 1 Test
- Course Certificate
MLO and Northern Illinois University (NIU), DeKalb, IL, are co-sponsors in offering continuing education units (CEUs) for this issue’s CE article. CEUs or contact hours are granted by the College of Health and Human Sciences at Northern Illinois University, which has been approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® program. Continuing education credits awarded for successful completion of this test are acceptable for the ASCP Board of Registry Continuing Competence Recognition Program. Readers who pass the test successfully (scoring 70% or higher) will receive a certificate for 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E.® credit. The fee for this continuing education test is $20. This test was prepared by Amanda Voelker, MPH, MT(ASCP), MLS, Clinical Education Coordinator, School of Health Studies, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Passing scores of 70 percent or higher are eligible for 1 contact hour of P.A.C.E. credit. This test is no longer valid for CEUs after November 2026.
NIU is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E. ® Program.