OBJECTIVES : Personalized medicines are emerging as an option in oncological diseases treatment across world. Personalized medicine based treatment protocols are estimated to serve better clinic and economic results. The aim of study is to understand the accessibility status to personalized oncology medicines and genetic profile testing environment in Turkey.

METHODS : National regulatory body, Turkish Medicines and Medical Device Agency(TITCK) and reimbursement body, Social Security Institution(SGK) publicly available databases are reviewed for the analysis. Personalized medicine approvals depending on genetic profile testing are retrieved from the licensed medicine and reimbursement lists and accordingly, descriptive analysis are conducted.

RESULTS : Based on the analysis, it is found that 24 genetic profile testing applied personalized oncology medicines treatment protocols are available in Turkey. All these 24 treatment protocols are licensed and reimbursed. Among these 24 treatment protocols, 8 of them belong to lung cancer treatments. Hematologic and malignant melanoma are the other treatment areas that have personalized oncology medicine treatment protocols with 4 and 3 treatment protocols, respectively. Immunohistochemical(IHC) and Fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) techniques are the predominantly recommended genetic tests and DNA Sequence Analysis and Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) is also recommended frequently.

CONCLUSIONS : 24 personalized oncology medicine treatment protocols are currently used in Turkey. With the increasing attitude of the tumor anatomic localization agnostic medicines. medicines, total number of treatment protocols is expected to increase in coming future with the launch of new personalized medicines that are accompanied with genetic profile testing. The future of oncology treatments may be based on genetic profile testing regardless of anatomic localization of tumors. Decision makers need to take consider the future value personalized oncology medicines with genetic profile testing. Additionally, liquid biopsy with new genome sequencing for genetic profile is a critical protocol that avoids the unnecessary bioposy procedures and heterogeneity of biopsy with serving re-testing during treatment.