Liquid Biopsy Shows Promise for Early Lung cancer Detection in Brazil
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Early detection of genetic changes in lung cancer through liquid biopsy could become an important tool to speed up diagnosis and guide treatment for patients in Brazil.
A study supported by Fapesp and published in the journal Molecular Oncology showed that it is indeed possible to identify relevant mutations in blood samples from patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using a commercial multigene panel. The research was conducted at Hospital de Amor (formerly Barretos Cancer Hospital), a national reference in oncology, and evaluated the presence of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in different groups of patients, including asymptomatic individuals.
Non-small cell lung cancer represents around 85% of cases of the disease, being the most prevalent subtype.Within it, there are different groups, such as adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma, in particular, is marked by the presence of mutations that have become the target of specific therapies, altering the course of treatment in recent years. Just over ten years ago, median survival did not exceed eight months. Today, the scenario is different: there is talk of overall survival of around two to three years if the patient receives targeted therapies, which can reach ten years in certain specific cases.
“Adenocarcinoma is the subtype of lung cancer that has benefited most from advances in genomics and, therefore, it is the main target of our study”, explains researcher letícia Ferro Leal, co-supervisor of the study. “Genes such as EGFR,ALK and KRAS have what we call ‘actionability’.This means that, when we identify such a change in the patient, there is a target drug capable of acting directly on it”.
Key Takeaways
- Liquid biopsy offers a non-invasive method for detecting genetic mutations in lung cancer.
- The study focused on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially adenocarcinoma.
- Identifying mutations in genes like EGFR, ALK, and KRAS allows for targeted therapies.
- Advances in genomics have substantially improved survival rates for adenocarcinoma patients.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is liquid biopsy?
Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive test that analyzes samples of blood or other bodily fluids for cancer cells or DNA fragments released by tumors. It provides a way to detect and monitor cancer without the need for a traditional tissue biopsy.
What is circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)?
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is DNA released by cancer cells into the bloodstream. Analyzing ctDNA can help identify genetic mutations present in the tumor,providing valuable details for diagnosis and treatment planning.
Why is adenocarcinoma a key focus of this research?
Adenocarcinoma is a subtype of lung cancer that has shown significant improvement in treatment outcomes due to the development of targeted therapies based on specific genetic mutations.
Publication Date: 2025/12/19 03:43:01
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