IASLC Unveils Comprehensive Assessment of Liquid Biopsy for Patients With NSCLC
Posted: Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Although tumor biopsy is still the standard for diagnosing patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the practice of isolating circulating cell-free tumoral DNA (ctDNA) in plasma, better known as liquid biopsies, in patients with NSCLC offers high reliability for diagnosis. This comes from a statement Paper published by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology appraising the current and future clinical practices using liquid biopsy.
“We strongly believe that with the growing relevance of molecular testing in every field of cancer, physicians dealing with cancer have developed confidence in the liquid biopsy technologies,” concluded Christian Rolfo, MD, PhD, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, and colleagues. “In our opinion this is aided through the conformity and the accuracy of the pathologists’ reports and through the creation of a specific board that takes care of considering the molecular identity of the patient’s tumor in a multidisciplinary team.”
For its appraisal, the IASLC convened a multidisciplinary panel composed of experts in the field of thoracic oncology to evaluate the current and available evidence regarding liquid biopsy, specifically the value of ctDNA. The Statement Paper presented its options on sample acquisition and handling; platforms and requirements for molecular analysis; the role of liquid biopsy in treatment-naive, treatment response, and progressive disease settings; results reporting; ethical considerations; and future perspectives with regard to immune oncology, ctRNA, circulating tumor cells, and liquid specimens beyond peripheral blood.
