Genetic advances will influence the practice of medicine: examples from cancer research and care of cancer patients.

Exciting new techniques of genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics are beginning to influence the practice of medicine, most notably in diagnosis and drug development for patients with various cancers. Examples are drawn from B-cell lymphomas, melanomas, and prostate, lung, and breast cancers. As in all evidence-based clinical practice, physicians will be better prepared if they understand the nature of the tests and the kinds of information from which they and their consultants will make clinical inferences and assist patients in making clinical decisions. Physicians also can help put new technologies in cultural and ethical context.