Lung cancer is not only one of the most common cancers people around the country may develop, it’s also one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Since biomarker testing is a highly-effective tool that doctors use to make treatment decisions—thus significantly improving patient outcomes—it’s imperative for labs to be able to do these tests efficaciously.
However, there are barriers labs may face that can preclude them from doing biomarker testing effectively. In the NSH Biomarker Testing and Personalized Medicine webinar, Carlos Buezo, Biomarker Testing Specialist at Genentech, sheds light on some of them.
Cost
Cost is the most common barrier of biomarker testing that labs face today. And it’s no wonder: Not only is there the cost of labor to consider in order to get validations completed, labs have to constantly think about the cost of infrastructure to do testing at the molecular level. As a result, Buezo says labs are tasked with making tough decisions about how to handle these rising expenses.
“We're being asked to do more with less every day. The time that you put into exhausting blocks, resources, and consumables come into play in saying, either we're going to tackle this in-house or we're going to do maybe the early stage testing in our place,” Buezo explained. “That way we can capture some of that revenue stream with the technical and practical portion, or as a group make the decision that it's more cost effective to have a partnership with a reference laboratory and utilize their services.”
Quality
The quality of samples is also a big issue in biomarker testing. Quality may be impacted for a variety of reasons, including not having enough tumor cells to test. Additionally, Buezo says that daily laboratory practice can play a role in quality, such as when you do touch preps.
“If you're doing touch preps and you're pressing too hard on the slide, you're actually removing cancer cells or transfer, and you're not making impression,” said Buezo. “That touch basically transfers the cells from the core onto the slide, so if you do too many touches or you press too hard down, you might be actually taking the tissue viability and leaving it on those slides, and that makes that slide extremely critical.”
Access
Like quality, access can be a barrier that manifests itself in the lab in different forms. One common way access becomes an issue is through a lack of knowledge about the testing guidelines everyone should know. Luckily, this can be addressed through regular education about best practices.
“Coming to NSH or different congresses, like the Association of Molecular Pathology and the College of American Pathologists, is paramount in our discipline because it brings us to the cutting edge of what's happening today,” Buezo said. “This gives you insight on what you need to go back to your group and advocate for to ensure you're providing the best of care for your patients.”
While biomarker testing is an essential tool in the fight against lung cancer, several barriers can impede its effective implementation in labs. From the significant costs associated with labor and infrastructure to the challenges of maintaining sample quality and ensuring proper access to testing guidelines, labs face a multitude of obstacles. However, by recognizing these challenges and taking proactive steps—such as investing in education and considering strategic partnerships—labs can overcome these barriers and continue to provide critical, life-saving information that enhances patient outcomes. For those interested in deepening their understanding and staying informed on best practices, the NSH Biomarker Testing and Personalized Medicine webinar offers valuable insights and resources.
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