{"id":4430,"date":"2025-12-15T09:43:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T14:43:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happylungsproject.org\/?p=4430"},"modified":"2026-03-02T10:52:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T15:52:35","slug":"role-of-biomarker-testing-in-early-stage-nsclc-advanced-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happylungsproject.org\/role-of-biomarker-testing-in-early-stage-nsclc-advanced-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"The Role of Biomarker Testing in Early-Stage NSCLC: Why It\u2019s Not Just for Advanced Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f68d28″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” font_color=”#ffffff” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”10px” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]Advances in biomarker science are reshaping how patients are diagnosed with and manage early-stage lung cancer. These insights can help connect patients with the treatments most likely to benefit them.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\"biomarker<\/em><\/p>\n

By Anthony Sireci, M.D., senior vice president of clinical biomarkers, laboratories and diagnostics at Eli Lilly and Company<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Often, when people hear \u201cbiomarker testing\u201d in relation to lung cancer, they associate it with advanced-stage disease. However, the treatment paradigm for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has evolved significantly in recent years and we see more therapies being introduced in the earliest stages of cancer, including in the neoadjuvant setting. Similar to how we think about biomarker testing<\/a> in the advanced stages, comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is proving to be just as critical in early-stage NSCLC.<\/p>\n

CGP is a thorough type of biomarker testing<\/a> that looks for alterations in the DNA and sometimes RNA of a patient\u2019s tumor cells in a single test to better understand the genomic drivers of their cancer. CGP in early-stage NSCLC can help inform targeted treatment options for patients in whom a potentially actionable genomic target is detected, similar to how it is used in later stage cancer, allowing for a better understanding of one\u2019s cancer\u00a0<\/span>and an opportunity to receive care that is tailored to an individual\u2019s unique cancer profile earlier in the treatment journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Testing in Early-Stage Matters<\/h2>\n

For patients with early-stage NSCLC, surgery is typically the first step in treatment. But as the treatment landscape continues to shift, people with NSCLC are no longer limited to surgery. Increasingly, alternative options are being used before surgery (neoadjuvant) or after surgery (adjuvant), and healthcare professionals can use CGP results to help guide treatment decisions with their patients as more targeted therapies become available in these early settings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the number of lung cancer diagnoses increasingly occur at earlier stages, the role of CGP continues to grow. Early genomic testing is important as the genomic drivers of the disease remain consistent from diagnosis throughout the course of their disease, so CGP results are available to inform every therapy decision, including if a patient progresses to metastatic disease. Early stage CGP can also rule out immunotherapy in certain biomarker-positive patients. Delaying testing can result in losing valuable time on ineffective treatments and interventions, and when it comes to cancer care, time is always of the essence.<\/p>\n

What Patients Can Expect from CGP<\/h2>\n

Once someone is diagnosed with lung cancer, the next essential step is a conversation between the patient and their care team about available treatment options, and this conversation should include plans for CGP.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what someone might expect from CGP testing, at a high-level:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n