Advancing Biomarker-Driven Strategies in NSCLC: Exploring the Emerging Role of QCS and TROP2 NMR - Episode 9
Evolving Multidisciplinary Collaboration in NSCLC: Preparing for QCS and AI-Driven Pathology
Panelists discuss how biomarker testing in oncology is evolving beyond genomic sequencing to include complex protein and RNA analyses, highlighting challenges such as limited biopsy tissue, the need for recent samples, and the importance of clear, standardized reporting; they emphasize that effective collaboration between oncologists and pathologists, along with the use of specialized send-out labs, will be critical to streamline workflows and ensure timely, actionable results for personalized patient care.
Biomarker testing in oncology is rapidly evolving beyond the traditional focus on next-generation sequencing and PD-L1 expression. Although genomic testing through liquid biopsies and multiplex assays is well established, multiplex immunohistochemistry remains an unmet need. One major challenge is the limited amount of tissue available from increasingly small biopsies, which often leads to insufficient material for comprehensive testing. This limitation sometimes necessitates repeat biopsies, especially when biomarker expression may change over time or with treatment. Understanding the inducible nature of certain biomarkers is still an area requiring further research, highlighting the importance of using recent tissue samples to guide therapy.
The complexity of biomarker analysis extends beyond genomic alterations to protein expression levels, RNA, and DNA changes, making interpretation and reporting a critical component. Medical oncologists manage diverse cancer types and need clear, concise, and actionable molecular reports that streamline treatment decisions. Without standardized, easy-to-understand reporting formats, clinicians face the challenge of navigating complicated data that can slow decision-making in busy clinical settings. Effective communication through well-structured reports can improve patient care by enabling oncologists to quickly identify the most relevant therapies based on biomarker status.
As biomarker testing becomes more sophisticated, collaboration between oncologists and pathologists is essential to ensure efficient workflows and timely access to clinically relevant results. Many community oncology practices are still working to integrate these complex tests, sometimes educating pathology colleagues about the clinical significance of emerging assays. Given the intricacy and volume of testing, specialized send-out laboratories will likely become central hubs for comprehensive biomarker analysis. Preparing now through multidisciplinary teamwork will help streamline processes and optimize patient outcomes as these advanced biomarkers become standard in clinical practice.
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