Researchers sight new options for diagnosing lung cancer by liquid biopsy

Bengaluru, April 12, 2022:

Researchers have explored new options to detect lung cancer. This is by using liquid biopsies obtained from a blood test which provides added advantages such as detection of genes responsible for cancer predisposition and drug metabolism. The test according to the researchers allows dynamic monitoring lung cancer treatment resistance and efficacy. The study was facilitated by the Global Cancer Consortium, which was formed in 2020.

Dr. Mahadev Rao, Professor and Head of Department of Pharmacy Practice at Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and founding faculty of Global Cancer Consortium along with his team of researchers in collaboration with scientists from the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, indicated that use of liquid biopsy which is a simple blood test is widely being used to help detect and treat lung cancer. It is designed to detect cancer cells, or DNA fragments from cancer cells, that circulate in the bloodstream

The team of researchers have published an invited review article titled, ‘Integration of liquid biopsy and pharmacogenomics for precision therapy of EGFR mutant and resistant lung cancers’ in the Molecular Cancer Journal. The paper explores new options of diagnosing lung cancer.

In India, lung cancer constitutes 6.9 per cent of all new cancer cases and 9.3 per cent of all cancer related deaths in both male and female. It is reported to be the commonest cancer and cause of cancer related mortality in men, with the highest reported incidences from Mizoram in both males and females. In fact among males, lung, mouth, esophagus, and stomach were the most common cancer site.

Currently tumour biopsies are the most usually used diagnostic tool for lung cancer. However, this paper talks about the enormous potential of liquid biopsies obtained from a blood sample to replace tumor biopsies that require patients to undergo a surgical procedure.

Along with Dr Rao, the paper was jointly published with a team com Jill Kolesar, who holds a Pharm D degree and is the director, Precision Medicine Center, co-chair of the Molecular Tumor Board for the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center and Professor in the UK College of Pharmacy. Another member of the team is Dr Vivek Rangnekar, associate director Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky and Global Cancer Consortium founding chair. The published paper had contents provided from a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, researchers, clinical pharmacists and basic scientists from MAHE. Global Cancer Consortium aims to promote partnerships in global cancer research, education, and outreach activities.

Dr M D Venkatesh, Vice-Chancellor, MAHE stated that the Global Cancer Consortium has initiated collaborative transnational cutting edge research for developing next-generation scientists and promoting cancer health care and has produced several high-quality joint research publications.

According to Dr. Rao, the liquid biopsies obtained from a blood test provides added advantages such as detection of genes responsible for cancer predisposition and drug metabolism, minimally invasive, reduced procedural complications, allows dynamic monitoring lung cancer treatment resistance and efficacy. Integrating liquid biopsy into cancer care and research provides enhanced personalized cancer care by selecting the right drug in precise doses, identifying the population-level genomic landscape, developing new drug molecules, and reducing the cost burden for cancer patients. Pharmabiz