Blog Details

• Tissue available from biopsy
• Considered “gold standard” for biomarker testing

• Lung cancer biopsies are less cellular than other solid tumors
  • Limited tumor cellularity in small biopsy samples or cytology specimens can cause molecular testing failure
  • Need 10%-20% of viable cancer cells in sample for reliable results
• Bone biopsies yield poor samples due to decalcification which degrades DNA

• Logistical: timing of DNA sequencing can take weeks; centralized vs sent to distant laboratory

            Single Gene Testing

        Next-Generation Sequencing

               Liquid Biopsy

Advantages

• Routine in practice

• Requires limited tumor tissue
• Facilitates testing of multiple biomarkers
• Appears more cost-effective and faster than sequential testing

• Potentially useful in select patients not amenable to tissue biopsy
• May overcome tumor heterogeneity

Limitations

• Tumor tissue samples often inadequate for multiple necessary tests

• Multiple platforms available using different methodology and target genes
• Analysis of biomarker reports

• Not optimized for use with less-sensitive testing methodology