Comprehensive biomarker testing identifies what is unique about a lung cancer patient’s cancer, ensuring they receive appropriate treatment. Increasing the use of comprehensive biomarker testing is one of GO2 for Lung Cancer’s key goals. To reach it, we’re using a multipronged approach that includes patient education, assessing data on biomarker testing, and increasing the number of patients receiving high-quality care.

Each element is critical, so we’re providing a quick project overview.

PATIENT EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

We know that an informed patient is an empowered patient!  To meet patient needs, we offer a variety of resources and awareness opportunities to help the lung cancer community learn about comprehensive biomarker testing.

Connections

By responding to phone calls and emails, our treatment specialists help patients and caregivers with their questions about treatment and clinical trial choices. This includes explaining the importance of comprehensive biomarker testing and helping patients to interpret their biomarker testing reports. This support is offered as part of our LungMATCH program, which also helps patients to access comprehensive biomarker testing in conjunction with Perthera, a leading precision medicine company.

Information
  • Check out some of the website resources about comprehensive biomarker testing including an easy overview of testing, details on how to get help navigating the testing process through LungMATCH, and a list of approved targeted therapies for some NSCLC gene changes.
  • Read about the compassion and courage in our Patient Stories: Jeff M. and My Caregiver, My Rock and Stories that Inspire.
  • Look for a new e-newsletter in 2021 focusing on research and highlighting clinical trials that may be relevant to patients based on their comprehensive biomarker testing results.
Conversations

Learn from candid discussions with experts on our Lung Cancer Living Room episodes on biomarker testing:

Quick interviews with our own Andrew Ciupek, PhD about biomarker testing were hosted earlier this year by CURE Magazine. Listen or read each interview now.

Actions

To amplify the message of comprehensive biomarker testing, we’re working with hospitals and industry partners. Together, we can make a difference.

  • Our team is busy with Project PROMOTE, an educational campaign to empower patients and caregivers with information about biomarker testing and how it could affect treatment. Through the program, patients within our Centers of Excellence (COEs) network will have more direct access to our vast library of educational materials and all of our unique one-on-one patient resources.
  • GO2 for Lung Cancer also actively supports patient-facing biomarker testing campaigns of a variety of industry partners.

ASSESSING DATA

Some of our new research efforts seek to find answers and solutions to outstanding questions about comprehensive biomarker testing and patient care.

Do we fully understand how comprehensive biomarker testing is done, how oncologists use it to help treat advanced lung cancer, and what barriers may prevent patients from getting comprehensive biomarker testing?

Answers to questions like these will help us dismantle obstacles to improving patient care. We’re collecting data on comprehensive biomarker testing practices through The IMPACT Study, an annual survey tool used to assess quality care delivery in the more than 50 hospitals designated as Care Continuum Centers of Excellence (CCCOE).

Is there a positive impact if comprehensive biomarker testing and treatment are handled through a dedicated a member of the health care team? 

We’re trying to understand the barriers to creating such a position and whether community cancer centers would benefit. To do this we’re reaching out to cancer centers to make those determinations.

Are lung cancer organizations working together on the topic of comprehensive biomarker testing?

We are pleased to be partnering with several other lung cancer patient advocacy groups on the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Cancer Society’s National Lung Cancer Roundtable (NLCRT) joint Biomarker Survey, which will help us better understand how comprehensive biomarker testing is by oncologists and how they use it to help treat advanced lung cancer.

How do biomarkers change over time?

Studies such as the SPACEWALK study seek to understand how the lung cancer changes after treatment. The study, run through our sister organization ALCMI, is designed to provide free biomarker testing to patients who are at the point of drug resistance. Patients on a targeted therapy for an ALK mutation, can learn more and register on the website or call the study team at 844-44-SPACE (844-447-7223).

APPROPRIATE CARE

Through the more than 800 Centers of Excellence: Screening & Care Continuum program, we continue to highlight the healthcare facilities that offer high quality early detection, treatment, and care. These hospitals recognize the importance of comprehensive biomarker testing as a central element in determining treatment and will be sharing best practices at the upcoming 2020 Centers of Excellence Virtual Summit.

QUESTIONS? CONTACT US.

We tackle issues from multiple directions, but always keep patient needs at the center. Biomarker testing is no exception. If you need additional information, please delve into the resources noted here or contact us at support@go2.org.