For years, researchers have looked into liquid biopsy as a potentially useful tool to help Health Care Providers assess a patient’s response to treatment, monitor cancer recurrence and even detect targets for precision therapies. Since the approval of alpelisib in mid-2019, PIK3CA mutation has become a high interest target for genomic testing in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. In fact, with the PIK3CA frequency rate observed in approximately 40% of patients with HR+/HER2- aBC- testing should be in every Pathologist’s armament for genomic profiling.
As a leader in cancer diagnostic testing we often get cases with sub-optimal tissue specimen which, unfortunately, causes the test to fail. It’s heartbreaking. We know how difficult it can be for patients to endure a biopsy and yet, our technology is reliant on the integrity of the sample. For cases such as these, liquid biopsy, also known as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), is particularly useful to help match patients with optimal treatment using a simple blood draw, a minimally invasive procedure as compared to a tissue biopsy.
For patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer, detection of PIK3CA mutation is now available with PIK3CA Mutation Companion Diagnostic- Plasma, using ctDNA. This can have a major impact on breast cancer management; to be able to find a mutation that allows for treatment initiation without the requirement for a tissue biopsy. Although genomic profiling using tumor tissue definitely remains the gold standard when suitable archival tissue is available, when there is insufficient breast tissue or if the tissue is decalcified, testing by plasma is a terrific option for patients.
Liquid biopsy testing for cancer is continuing to evolve and we are starting to see a lot of promise in the clinical setting. PIK3CA Mutation CDx by Tissue or Plasma provides options for appropriate patients that require the next step for their management of advanced stage breast cancer.
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News With Neo: PIK3CA Mutation CDx