What is biomarker testing for patients with stage IV NSCLC?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 58-year-old woman, and my weight is around 154 pounds. Recently, I have been diagnosed with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). My physician informed me that it is necessary to perform biomarker testing prior to developing a treatment strategy.

As this is the first time I have heard about biomarker testing, I find myself confused. On the one hand, I wish to begin treatment as soon as possible, and on the other hand, I do not wish to lose any time, which may help me get the proper treatment.

What exactly is the procedure for performing biomarker testing for patients with stage IV NSCLC?
Is this procedure carried out based on the sample obtained during the biopsy procedure?
Should I have an additional test or biopsy performed?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

I can certainly empathize with the fear and anxiety you feel as a result of your diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer. On the other hand, I wish to assure you that despite your stage of disease, you still have the potential for a good response to treatment. With treatment, one can expect distant metastases to shrink and even be eliminated in some instances. The tumor itself also decreases in size.

The reason your doctor has requested genomic or biomarker testing is that, at your age, we usually try to identify whether you are a candidate for targeted therapy or immunotherapy rather than starting with traditional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

The new generation of treatments was created based on the principle of targeting specific abnormalities found in the tumor, thus being highly effective in terms of disease management and minimizing adverse effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.

Most patients can live with the condition for several years without any serious complications by undergoing the aforementioned therapy if there is a genetic abnormality in the tumor that can be treated. That is the reason why biomarker testing is essential, despite the inconvenience it brings.

Such diagnostic procedures and treatment methods may be costly because they employ advanced techniques. On the other hand, pharmaceutical companies often have their clinical trials offering such testing and treatment to selected patients free of charge.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.