WHAT IS A BIOMARKER?
A biomarker is any molecule that can be measured in tissues, blood, or other bodily fluids that may reveal distinct traits of an individual’s lung cancer.
For lung cancer, there’re two groups of biomarkers:
- Driver Mutations: These are changes in the cell that contribute to cancer growth. Among various biomarkers, genetic mutations in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor – EGFR mutations – may drive your lung cancer to grow and spread.
- PD-L1: A protein that could be found on the surface of a cancer cell and may stop your immune system from killing these cancer cells.
WHAT IS BIOMARKER TESTING?
Biomarker testing is performed to determine whether you have a mutation or a particular protein that could cause your cancer to grow and spread.
Doctors may test for biomarkers by performing a biopsy. This requires removing a piece of tissue from the tumor. You may or may not undergo a biopsy before surgery, or your doctor may wait until after surgery to get a sample from the removed tumor. Your doctor will decide the best time to perform a biopsy for you.
WHY IS BIOMARKER TESTING IMPORTANT?
NSCLC may come back even after successful surgery. Biomarker testing results may provide your healthcare team specific information about your lung cancer — information they may need to establish the most appropriate after-surgery treatment plan to help keep your type of lung cancer from coming back.
Guidelines recommend testing for EGFR mutations in patients with stage 1B-3A* NSCLC to help your doctor determine the appropriate treatment plan after surgery. Guidelines also recommend testing for PD-L1 in certain patients with stage 2-3A* disease.
*Ask your doctor for more information about your specific stage.
DID YOU KNOW?
Genetic mutations in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor — EGFR mutations — may drive your cancer cells to grow and spread — even after successful surgery. EGFR mutations are a type of biomarkers that are common among Asian lung cancer patients.
Approximately 45% of
Asian NSCLC patients have an EGFR biomarker. *
*Percentages are for the most common type of NSCLC called adenocarcinoma.
UNDERSTANDING BIOMARKERS IN YOUR LUNG CANCER
DETECTIVE BIO:
Hello! I am detective Bio.
Today, let’s find important clues to help guide your lung cancer treatment.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
UNDERSTANDING LUNG CANCER TREATMENT
DETECTIVE BIO:
A key clue to solving your case is a biomarker.
Then, what is a biomarker?
TEXT ON SCREEN:
Know your biomarker status
What is a biomarker?
DETECTIVE BIO:
Every person has a different fingerprint.
Just as each fingerprint has a different pattern, each person's lung cancer may have a different signature.
These signatures are called biomarkers.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
Biomarkers
Biomarkers reveal different traits of each individual's lung cancer.
DETECTIVE BIO:
Certain lung cancer biomarkers may help doctors to better understand a patient’s specific type of cancer and to better determine their appropriate treatment options.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
Treatment Options
Surgery | Targeted Therapy | Immunotherapy | Chemotherapy | Radiation
Treatment options will depend on your type and stage of lung cancer. Talk to your doctor about which treatment options may be right for you.
DETECTIVE BIO:
Biomarkers sometimes emerge from mutations in DNA.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
Normal Cells
Cancer Cells
EGFR* mutation detected
*EGFR = Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
DETECTIVE BIO:
Genetic mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor, or EGFR gene -- among various biomarkers -- can drive your lung cancer to grow and spread.
EGFR mutations are a type of biomarkers that are common in patients with lung cancer from Asia.
Approximately 45% of Asian non-small cell lung cancer patients test positive for an EGFR biomarker.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
Asian Lung Cancer Patients
Approximately 45% of Asian non-small cell lung cancer patients have an EGFR biomarker.*
*Percentages are for the most common type of NSCLC called adenocarcinoma.
DETECTIVE BIO:
If an EGFR biomarker is found in your lung cancer through biomarker testing, you and your doctor may discuss a treatment plan that specifically targets it.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
Blood Test*
Tissue Test
*Used to determine biomarkers in stage 4 lung cancer.
Biomarker testing can help your doctor determine your treatment options.
DETECTIVE BIO:
That’s why biomarker testing is a key step in your complete diagnosis.
If you are diagnosed with lung cancer, make sure to ask your doctor about biomarker testing. It’s okay to ask.
TEXT ON SCREEN:
Ask your doctor about biomarker testing
It’s okay to ask.
DETECTIVE BIO:
For more information, visit TreatYourLungCancer.com
TEXT ON SCREEN:
For more information, visit TreatYourLungCancer.com
©2021 AstraZeneca. All rights reserved. US-52720 Last Updated 11/21