Precision Medicine for Cancer in Hyderabad

Precision medicine — also called personalised medicine — means tailoring cancer treatment to the specific biology of your tumour, rather than treating everyone with the same cancer in the same way. By understanding the genes and proteins driving a particular cancer, treatment can be matched to what is most likely to work.

At Indian OncoCare, precision-medicine care is led by Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology & Hemato-Oncology at Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad.

The starting point is testing the tumour — through molecular oncology and biomarker testing — to find the specific changes driving it. Those results then guide treatment: a targeted therapy matched to a particular mutation, or immunotherapy selected using markers such as PD-L1 or MSI. The aim is to choose treatments most likely to help while sparing you those unlikely to work.

Precision medicine is now part of routine care in several cancers — for example lung cancer (EGFR, ALK and other drivers), colorectal cancer (RAS, MSI), breast cancer (HER2, hormone receptors) and ovarian cancer (BRCA/HRD). It is especially valuable in advanced or hard-to-treat cancers, where the right match can meaningfully change the outlook.

Precision medicine is only as good as the interpretation behind it. Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh) reviews molecular results carefully and translates them into a practical plan, delivered through Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad. Learn more about molecular oncology, liquid biopsy and cancer genetic testing, or explore our cancer services.

A cancer diagnosis affects the whole family, and practical support matters as much as medical treatment. Our patient support resources help you prepare for consultations and understand each step, while our financial guidance can help you understand treatment costs and the insurance or assistance options that may be available.

You can find more guidance and checklists in our patient resources section. Patients travelling from outside Hyderabad or from abroad usually begin with an online consultation before continuing in person — see our international patients page for how this is coordinated.

Is precision medicine right for every cancer?

Not yet. It is standard in some cancers and emerging in others. Even where it does not apply, standard treatment remains effective and is still personalised to your cancer’s type and stage.

What test is needed?

Usually biomarker or molecular testing on your tumour sample, and sometimes a blood-based test. Your oncologist advises what is useful in your situation.

Does it replace chemotherapy?

Not always. Sometimes a targeted drug or immunotherapy is preferred; often precision medicine works alongside chemotherapy.

Who guides this for me?

Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh) interprets the results and plans treatment personally.

Related reading: Molecular Oncology · Liquid Biopsy · Cancer Genetic Testing · Targeted Therapy · Immunotherapy · Lung Cancer Specialist · Second Opinion in Hyderabad

Further reading:

Medically reviewed by Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology & Hemato-Oncology, Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad. Telangana State Medical Council Registration No. 77186.

Last reviewed: August 2026.

This page is general information about precision (personalised) cancer medicine and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Treatment decisions must be made with a qualified oncologist who has reviewed your reports.