Kathryn E. Hudson, MD, hematologist and oncologist, as well as the director of Survivorship for Texas Oncology, Texas Oncology, discusses the utility of liquid biopsy in lung cancer.

It is important to remember that liquid biopsy is a tool to use if the full picture of the molecular markers of the tumor are unavailable, says Hudson. Liquid biopsy can also be utilized if there are barriers to undergoing repeat biopsy or if an answer is needed quickly to start treatment in a patient. This is an option that could help inform the treatment of patients with lung cancer in a safe, and potentially faster, way, adds Hudson.

It is also important that community oncologists know that liquid biopsy is not just to look for 

 mutations; it has the ability to look for multiple molecular markers and mutations. Having this information could help make a difference in the treatment, and thus outcomes, of these patients, concludes.

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Kathryn E. Hudson, MD, discusses the utility of liquid biopsy in lung cancer.

Dr. Hudson on the Utility of Liquid Biopsy in Lung Cancer

Kathryn E. Hudson, MD, hematologist and oncologist, director, Survivorship for Texas Oncology, Texas Oncology, discusses the rise of liquid biopsies as a tool for molecular testing in lung cancer.

Liquid biopsies are emerging as a more common option used by oncologists to test for biomarkers, though their acceptance is limited by lack of data, explains Hudson. Additionally, there are no large panel liquid biopsy tests currently approved by the FDA.

Currently, tumor tissue is the most standard and well-accepted way to perform molecular testing; however, liquid biopsies are available to get information should a tissue biopsy not be possible, concludes Hudson.

Kathryn E. Hudson, MD, discusses the rise of liquid biopsies as a tool for molecular testing in lung cancer.

Dr. Hudson on the Rise of Liquid Biopsies in Lung Cancer

Kathryn E. Hudson, MD, hematologist and oncologist, director, Survivorship for Texas Oncology, Texas Oncology, discusses performing repeat biopsies on patients with relapsed/refractory non—small cell lung cancer.

Repeat biopsies need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, explains Hudson. For example, performing a biopsy would be helpful if a patient’s tumor is undergenotyped or not genotyped at all. Additionally, sometimes tumors undergo clonal evolution and will acquire new mutations over time.

It is important to understand a tumor’s mutations at the time of progression, making repeat testing a possibility for some patients, says Hudson. For patients who do not have enough tissue or would be put at risk by having more tissue collected, liquid biopsies provide an overarching understanding of the tumor through a blood test, concludes Hudson.

Kathryn E. Hudson, MD, discusses performing repeat biopsies on patients with relapsed/refractory non–small cell lung cancer.

Dr. Hudson on Repeat Molecular Testing in Relapsed/Refractory NSCLC

Kathryn E. Hudson, MD, hematologist and oncologist, director, Survivorship for Texas Oncology, Texas Oncology, discusses the utility of liquid biopsies in metastatic lung cancer.

Hudson highlights a need for safer, more efficient tools to identify molecular aberrations in lung cancer. A tissue biopsy is an invasive procedure that could result in a punctured lung or bleeding.

Additionally, tissue biopsies can be challenging when there is not enough tissue to biopsy. Moreover, results of the test may take upward of a week to receive.

Conversely, liquid biopsies are noninvasive and can provide quicker results with minimal complications, Hudson concludes.

Kathryn E. Hudson, MD, discusses the utility of liquid biopsies in metastatic lung cancer.

Kathryn E. Hudson, MD

Articles

Dr. Hudson on the Utility of Liquid Biopsy in Lung Cancer

Dr. Hudson on the Rise of Liquid Biopsies in Lung Cancer

Dr. Hudson on Repeat Molecular Testing in Relapsed/Refractory NSCLC

Dr. Hudson on the Utility of Liquid Biopsy in Metastatic Lung Cancer