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Alain Borczuk, MD, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine Hospital / New York-Presbyterian, discusses the current role of fluid biopsies in lung cancer versus tissue biopsy and challenges to to rise in this space. There is currently an approved liquid biopsy test to detect EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer, but these tests allow doctors to detect potential alterations that may affect treatment decisions.
Liquid biopsies can be effective in detecting more biomarkers in lung cancer. By using these blood-based dosages, doctors can extend the use of tissue samples. According to Borczuk, liquid biopsies play an important role in the field because they can detect certain alterations and help extend the use of tissues.
If some alterations are found in liquid biopsies, pathologists can focus their efforts on alterations that can only be detected in the tissues. However, the challenge in this space is that pathologists are often not coordinated with liquid biopsy tests. Laboratories and clinicians perform these tests so that the pathologist can not coordinate these findings with tissue biopsies.
Borczuk concludes that it is something that has to change. Pathologists must work in coordination with oncologists and surgeons to better integrate the results of the liquid biopsy into their own practice.
For more resources and information regarding liquid biopsy: http: //targetedonc.com/resource-cente …
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