How Biomarker Testing Can Help
Biomarker testing can help you and your care team better understand important details about your cancer and inform personalized treatment options that can be most likely to help you.
What are biomarkers?
What is biomarker testing?
Biomarkers are found through biomarker testing, sometimes called molecular profiling, comprehensive genomic profiling, tumor testing, or next generation sequencing. Doctors use the information from biomarker testing to identify possible treatments for patients. People with certain biomarkers may benefit from biomarker-directed (targeted) therapies, immunotherapy, or clinical trials. You may hear a biomarker test being called a companion diagnostic test if it is paired with a specific treatment.
Treatments aren’t equally effective for all people or all cancers. Advances in biomarker testing and targeted therapy development may help identify the most effective and personalized treatments and improve outcomes for patients.
Biomarker testing is different from genetic testing, which is used to find out if a person has mutations they inherited from their parents that make them more likely to get cancer or other diseases.
Who can get biomarker testing?
Because biomarker testing can be performed on tumor tissue or blood, anyone with cancer can receive it.
Should I get biomarker testing?
Yes. Biomarker testing is a critical tool for identifying targeted treatments or immunotherapies that might be effective for a particular patient. It can also be helpful in providing more precise diagnoses in people who have developed rare cancers. Biomarker testing should be a part of every rare cancer patient’s care.
Don’t be afraid to advocate for biomarker testing with your doctor. You have a right to know more about your tumor sample and to see your full biomarker test report. If your doctor doesn’t want to test for relevant biomarkers, you have the right to seek a second opinion, or pursue a test from an company who specializes in biomarker testing.
What happens after I get my test results?
Once biomarker testing results are returned, the next step is to determine if any of the mutations are actionable – if any of the cell changes that are driving tumor growth can be targeted with an available drug. Targeted therapies work differently in different people, and even if your results indicate a biomarker that matches an available treatment, the therapy may not work for you. However, research has shown that treatment led by biomarker testing extends patients’ lives. Talk to your doctor about the results of your biomarker test and ask how they impact your treatment options.
How much does biomarker testing cost?
The cost of biomarker testing varies widely in the United States depending on the type of test you get, the type of cancer you have, and your insurance plan. For some people with advanced cancer, biomarker tests may be covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, private insurance providers often cover the cost of biomarker testing if there is proof that the test is necessary to guide treatment decisions. Tests without enough documented proof to support their value may be considered experimental and are unlikely to be covered by insurance. However, most biomarker testing companies offer extensive financial support programs.
How is biomarker testing performed?
For tumor biomarker testing, a sample of your cancer cells will be taken during either surgery or a biopsy. For blood biomarker testing, also known as a liquid biopsy, you will have a blood draw. Your samples will then be sent to a special laboratory where they can be tested for certain cancer biomarkers that may be responsible for driving your cancer’s growth. If biomarkers are found in your cancer, it will help your care team identify treatments that can target these drivers. The lab will create a report of their findings for you and your healthcare team to discuss.
Where can I get biomarker testing done?
For some types of rare cancers, and at some institutions, biomarker testing is part of the standard of care and your doctor may test for biomarkers without you having to ask. In other cases, biomarker testing is done upon request. Regardless, you should ask your care team whether biomarker testing is being carried out. For others, biomarker testing is done at university hospitals and major cancer centers when requested.
There are also private, independent companies that conduct biomarker testing, such as Foundation Medicine, Tempus, Caris, and many more.
Many clinical trials involve biomarker testing. Patients enrolled in TCF-001 TRACK, for example, receive biomarker testing of tissue and blood from Foundation Medicine, as well as treatment recommendations from TRACK’s Virtual Molecular Tumor Board.
Understanding the Difference Between Genetic Testing and Genomic Testing
Both kinds of tests — those mapping a person’s DNA profile for hereditary mutations (genetic) and those analyzing a tumor’s genomic abnormalities acquired throughout one’s lifetime (genomic) — may help inform cancer treatment. However, they are used in different ways in different circumstances. Working with a genetic counselor can help you understand the results of genetic testing and the options it provides for your rare cancer treatment.
Genetics
Genetics is a term that refers to the study of genes and their roles in inheritance – the way that certain traits or conditions are passed down from one generation to another.
Genetic testing can help individuals and families learn about how conditions are inherited in families, what screening and testing options are available, and, for some genetic conditions, what treatments are available. Some inherited genetic changes can put a person at higher risk for developing cancer.
Genomics
Genomics describes the study of all of a person’s genes (the genome), including how those genes interact with each other and with the person’s environment. It can help researchers discover why some people get sick from certain infections, environmental factors, and behaviors, while others do not.
Biomarker (also known as genomic) testing is helpful for individuals with rare cancers because it can identify mutations that occur during one’s lifetime. The mutations found in genomic testing of cancers can help oncologists recommend a precision therapy designed to target that mutation.
Helpful resources
- Biomarker Testing for Cancer Treatment (National Cancer Institute)
- What People With Cancer Should Know About Biomarker Testing (Cancer Care)
- Biomarker Tests and Cancer Treatment (American Cancer Society)
- Biomarker Testing: Unlocking Personalized Treatments to Improve Patient Outcomes (American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network)
- The Costs of Biomarker Testing (National Cancer Institute)