Biomarker For Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is not just a single disease but is made up of many multiple subtypes with diverse characteristics. Biomarker testing is the best and most effective tool for supporting oncologists in understanding tumours. Based on the results of biomarker testing, oncologists can make informed decisions. Many patients are diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, and at this stage, the tumour can be removed through surgery. Many get diagnosed at an advanced stage of cancer in which a tumour cannot be removed by surgery. Biomarker testing is an excellent option for all patients with lung cancer, regardless of the stage of the condition. Knowing whether a patient’s cancer does or does not have biomarkers can help doctors to develop proper personalised treatment plans. Dr. Arvind Kumar, one of India’s leading chest and robotic surgeons, makes people understand why biomarker testing is important in lung cancer care.

Understanding lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most severe cancer form worldwide and is the highest cause of cancer-related deaths as well. It is vital to understand all about lung cancer and the treatment choices that can treat the condition effectively. Dr Arvind Kumar, one of India’s leading chest surgeons, offers cutting-edge treatment and personalised care for lung cancer patients. Lung cancer starts in the lungs and can spread to many other body organs as well if not treated on time. These are of two types.

• Non-small cell lung cancer 

Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common lung cancer type and includes many other subtypes as well, including large cell carcinoma, squamous, etc. It is often diagnosed at an earlier stage and has great treatment results.

• Small cell lung cancer 

Small cell lung cancer is a more aggressive form of lung cancer with two subdivisions: the limited stage and the extensive stage. Because of its aggressive nature, it is diagnosed at the advanced stages.

Symptoms of lung cancer 

Lung cancer shows many common symptoms :

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent cough
• Unexplained weight loss
• Coughing the blood
• Hoarseness
• Recurrent respiratory issues

What Is A Biomarker?

Biomarkers are in your body that can be a sign of any health issue or disease like cancer and affect how cancer cells grow, mutate, multiply, die or respond to the treatment options. Biomarkers can be found in the urine, blood, stool, and cancer cells. Biomarkers are as follows :

• Higher than normal levels of substances like property
• Changes or mutations in genes
• Missing or extra genes.

What Is Biomarker Testing? 

Biomarkers are the proteins or pieces of DNA released by the cancer cells or the body’s response to cancer, which has been tested. Biomarker testing results help doctors determine the cancer stage and overall health, which ultimately helps to create a personalised, accurate treatment plan. It is a test that looks for the genetic changes and proteins in the genes of lung cancer patients. Biomarker testing is done with a tissue biopsy or with blood drawn. Staples are then sent to the lab for analysis, and it may take many weeks to get the result. The results of biomarker testing will give a tumour profile that will help doctors better understand the tumour and on which the treatment will rely. If certain biomarkers are present, specific treatments for the tumour will be needed. During the comprehensive biomarker testing, the doctor will look for changes in specific genes associated with lung cancer counting:

• EGFR
• KRAS
• MET
• NTRK
• RET
• ALK
• BRAF
• ROS1
• V600E

The testing will tell the doctor whether the cancer will respond to specific treatments and help the doctor determine the most effective treatment option for great outcomes.

Why Is Biomarker Testing In Lung Cancer Necessary?

It is vital to understand that not all lung cancers are the same, as it is a very complex disease made of many subtypes. The two main subtypes are non-small cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer. Also, these can be further broken down into other subtypes because of their complexity. For lung cancer treatment, it is vital to get accurate details about the subtypes as different subtypes respond differently to specific treatments, including targeted therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Knowing accurately about the best, the doctor will make an effective treatment plan for each individual for the best possible outcomes. Mostly, all cases of patients with non-small cell lung cancer have specific characteristics termed as biomarkers on their tumour cells. However, not all lung cancers have these identified biomarkers, but the presence of these biomarkers can offer valuable insights to identify a specific cancer subtype. Getting details of the presence or absence of these biomarkers can help doctors determine whether the person is right for the particular treatment.

Lung Cancer Biomarker

Lung cancer biomarkers are used to diagnose and treat non-small or non-small testing, which helps doctors get details about specific proteins and mutations in the tumour. These mutations are not inherited and are particular changes that occur with time, and the lessons can be the environmental factors. However, there are few acres in which there is no identification of clear-cut causes as well. There are two types of lung cancer biomarkers :

• Mutations that promote cancer cell growth
• Immune response biomarkers detail how well cancer may respond to the immunotherapy treatment.

If a person has non-small cell lung cancer, the common biomarker detected is the tumour protein p53 or TP53, which is found in about 50 per cent of cases diagnosed. The second biomarker is the KRAS, which is found in about 30 percent of cases of non-small cell lung cancer patients. However, this test will look for many more biomarkers.

Who Should Have Biomarker Testing? 

The doctor will suggest that you have biomarker testing done if :

• You have to undergo a biopsy or surgery for a lung mass that could be lung cancer.
• If you have a specific type of lung cancer, like non-small cell lung cancer, for which biomarker testing is needed.

Your doctor will recommend biomarker teasing, also known as comprehensive biomarker testing of NGS, to look for gene mutations; the test is done to look for a protein called PD-L1 and the test is done in either of the two ways or in both ways :

Tumor Tissue

To get it done, a biopsy of lung cancer can be done during bronchoscopy, surgery or else needle biopsy. The doctor will take a piece as a sample of the tumour and send the tissue to the lab for biomarker testing.

Blood Sample

In some cases, blood will be drawn for biomarker testing, and the results of Thai testing are faster than that of tumour tissue.

The Biomarker Testing Results 

The biomarker testing results will take weeks and be sent to the doctor. The result will tell the details of which biomarker your tumour contains. The testing often looks for more than 100 biomarkers. The results obtained from biomarker testing show that your cancer has a specific biomarker that is targeted by known therapy, and the treatment may work and treat the cancer effectively. The results of the biomarker testing for lung cancer will be :

Positive Test 

The positive results, EGFR+ALK, mean that the patient’s cancer has specific mutations or proteins that can be targeted with the therapy.

The Negative Test

The negative results of the biomarker testing show that the cancer does not have specific mutations or proteins that need therapy.

Further Evaluation

If the results show further evaluation, biomarker testing results should be adequately discussed with the doctor to understand the best course of treatment.

Conclusion 

However, biomarker testing showed great promise in lung cancer treatment, but it is still not done as often as it should be done. According to research, many patients do not undergo biomarker testing because of cost, quality, time and access, and awareness of the tests. Dr. Arvind Kumar, one of the best chest surgeons in Delhi, makes people understand the importance of testing and how it can help to treat lung cancer effectively. Thanks to biomarker testing, lung cancer treatment has improved during these times. To seek the best lung cancer treatment, consult Dr. Arvind Kumar in Delhi.