Question: I was just diagnosed with lung cancer. My doctor told me that I should have biomarker testing done to determine the best treatment for me. What are biomarkers, and why will testing for them affect my treatment options?

Answer: “Biomarkers” are mutations or changes inside cancer cells that make them different from healthy cells. Biomarkers drive cancer cells to grow and spread.

“Biomarker testing” tells your healthcare team what mutations or changes you have. Your results guide your team to the best treatment for you. You may also hear biomarker testing called molecular testing, genetic mutation testing, genomic testing, tumor testing, and next generation sequencing (NGS). Testing may be done using a piece of tissue from a tumor (tissue biopsy) or a blood sample (liquid biopsy). You should ask your healthcare team which one (or both) is best for you.

All people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including all stages and types, should get biomarker testing.  You should have biomarker testing both at the time of diagnosis, before you start your first treatment, and if your treatment stops working and the cancer starts growing again. When you talk to your care team about biomarker testing, you should ask for comprehensive biomarker testing because it looks for all known biomarkers instead of just a few.

Biomarker testing informs your treatment options because if your testing shows that you have one of the biomarkers for which a targeted therapy exists, then your best treatment will most often be a targeted therapy. “Targeted therapies” are treatments that aim at a certain “target” in cancer cells. Their goal is to stop the change that is making cancer grow.

Suppose your test results do not include a biomarker that has targeted therapy. In that case, you will be treated using one or more other common treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. Other biomarkers, like PD-L1, are used to help make decisions about immunotherapy. Either way, biomarker testing offers you and your care team the information you need to choose the best treatment for your individual case.

Biomarker test results can also lead you to clinical trials, offering even more treatment options. A clinical trial is a study done by a team of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers to find new ways to treat lung cancer safely.

If you have any questions about biomarker testing, your test results, or your treatment options, our team can help. Contact us through our HelpLine at 1-800-298-2436.

Please note that the information included in any published answer is for educational pursuit only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult their healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Nothing from GO2 for Lung Cancer should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion.