Accessing the Latest Developments in Liquid Biopsies

"Accessing the Latest Developments in Liquid Biopsies" (Lauren Leiman and Jenn Dickey) [#148] Brad Power June 18, 2025 “The reason this is a powerful tool, and one that we advocate strongly for in the oncology community, and one that we actively try to develop and promote the development of new assays for, is because it is less invasive than a standard biopsy and has a lot of functionality that can help improve patients’ lives.

” – Jenn Dickey, PhD “As Allen said, ‘You're just getting lead time. It doesn't change the outcome.’Well, I'm Exhibit A for the fact that that's wrong, and I not only got a liquid biopsy, it wasn't without the advice of a physician, it was against the advice of my physician. He said, ‘Don't do it. They don't work. You're just going to get a false positive, and it's going to scare you.

’ One of the very few things that my doctors agree on now is I probably wouldn't be here if I hadn't done that. So you can make all the statistical arguments you want on patient advocacy. I'm not a statistic. I'm a person. And I wouldn't be here without it.

” – Roger Royse [Allen reply: Roger, I was specifically talking about the minimal residual disease space in regard to the concept of lead time promise of benefit and the consensus view of it in my medical community - so we are talking past each other]. “We take the information to our physicians, and we ask for things.

We promote the use of technologies of benefit for us, directly to our physicians, as I did recently, because I'm interested in detection in my own body, from my treated and apparently now indolent prostate cancer. Using circulating tumor DNA detection to see if there's something growing that is not being picked up by my PSA. My oncologist said he didn't know anything about this.

I said, ‘Well, I want this. Could you please research it and find out how to get it for me? Should I get circulating tumor cell counts or should I get a CtDNA screen, quantitative to what percentage of my circulating DNA is tumor DNA, and then if it's detected, can it be genomically profiled?

’” – Paul Van Camp, MD “In the base case of tissue assessment for comprehensive genomic profiling, there have been several recent publications that indicated that approaching 75% of advanced, non-small-cell lung cancer patients are getting comprehensive genomic profiling, and then the numbers fall precipitously by tumor type after that.

In an advanced cancer space, to not have comprehensive genomic profiling of some sort in the era of precision medicine with so many targeted therapies is a real and present danger to our advancement in this space.

” – Jenn Dickey, PhD Meeting Summary Cancer patients and caregivers need to understand liquid biopsies because these non-invasive tests can provide valuable information about your cancer, guiding treatment decisions, monitoring treatment effectiveness, and detecting early signs of recurrence or progression.

patients and caregivers need to understand liquid biopsies because these non-invasive tests can provide valuable information about your cancer, guiding treatment decisions, monitoring treatment effectiveness, and detecting early signs of recurrence or progression.

Liquid biopsies offer a more convenient and less risky alternative to traditional tissue biopsies, particularly if you have advanced or recurrent cancer. This allows for more frequent and less risky monitoring of cancer progression and response to treatment.

"Accessing the Latest Developments in Liquid Biopsies" (Lauren Leiman and Jenn Dickey) [#148] biopsies can potentially revolutionize cancer care by making it more accurate, accessible, and personalized.

Lauren Leiman, Executive Director, BLOODPAC, (Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer), and Jennifer Dickey, PhD, of Labcorp, are uniquely qualified to lead a discussion on the cutting edge of liquid biopsies. The BLOODPAC Consortium was launched in 2016 to accelerate the development and validation of liquid biopsy tests to improve the outcomes of patients with cancer.

It includes representatives from academia, private foundations, industry and government. Why might liquid biopsies be useful for you in your cancer journey?

●Less invasive than traditional tissue biopsies, especially if you are medically fragile or cannot undergo surgical procedures, minimal discomfort; less expensive than a tissue biopsy; can increase testing frequency; especially helpful when tissue biopsy is difficult or impossible ●Monitor your cancer progression and treatment response by tracking circulating tumor DNA in your blood; early detection of potential cancer recurrence or resistance mutations before they become clinically apparent; determine when to change therapeutic approaches ●Comprehensive genomic profiling that can help guide precision medicine treatment decisions; particularly useful if you have non-small cell lung cancer ●Multi-cancer early detection , allowing for screening and intervention at earlier stages when treatment is most effective How can liquid biopsies complement other tests?

●Liquid biopsies can offer a more comprehensive tumor profile by detecting genetic variations across multiple tumor sites, which a single tissue biopsy might miss. ●For monitoring treatment response, liquid biopsies allow frequent, non-invasive tracking of tumor mutations and minimal residual disease.

●In cases of metastatic cancer with unknown primary origin, liquid biopsies can help identify potential tumor origins and guide treatment decisions. ●Liquid biopsies can be used alongside traditional imaging and tissue tests to provide a more complete picture of your cancer status, potentially detecting changes earlier than other methods.

What are the challenges of false positives and false negatives and other potential biases in liquid biopsies, especially for multi-cancer early cancer detection?

ent decisions. ●Liquid biopsies can be used alongside traditional imaging and tissue tests to provide a more complete picture of your cancer status, potentially detecting changes earlier than other methods. What are the challenges of false positives and false negatives and other potential biases in liquid biopsies, especially for multi-cancer early cancer detection?

●False positives can cause psychological distress for patients, may lead to unnecessary additional medical procedures, and raise public health and reimbursement concerns. ●False negatives can provide a false sense of security, might delay critical cancer interventions, and reduce patient trust in the technology.

"Accessing the Latest Developments in Liquid Biopsies" (Lauren Leiman and Jenn Dickey) [#148] ●Key challenges include minimizing false positives (maximizing “sensitivity”) and minimizing false negatives (maximizing “specificity”), determining appropriate patient populations for testing, and developing tests that provide actionable clinical information.

●Current multi-cancer early detection tests are still evolving. They're not yet ready to replace existing screening methods like mammograms. Research is refining biomarker identification and establishing clinical standards. Early detection may provide lead time, but not improve your outcome. How should you decide which service provider you should select for your liquid biopsy?

●Clinical evidence: Look for providers with robust published research and clinical validation studies for your specific cancer type, consult with your medical team ●Test specificity: Evaluate the test's performance in terms of sensitivity and specificity for your particular diagnostic or monitoring needs ●Comprehensiveness : Check the breadth of genomic profiling and the number of cancer types the test can detect ●Regulatory approvals : Prefer providers with FDA clearance or CE marking ●Insurance coverage : Verify if the test is reimbursed by your insurance ●Turnaround time: Consider the speed of test results ●Cost: Compare pricing across different providers ●Reputation: Research the provider's track record and reviews from medical professionals How can you access liquid biopsies, e.

g., tips for persuading your doctor that you should get a liquid biopsy, navigating reimbursement?

rovide a more complete picture of your cancer status, potentially detecting changes earlier than other methods. What are the challenges of false positives and false negatives and other potential biases in liquid biopsies, especially for multi-cancer early cancer detection?

●False positives can cause psychological distress for patients, may lead to unnecessary additional medical procedures, and raise public health and reimbursement concerns. ●False negatives can provide a false sense of security, might delay critical cancer interventions, and reduce patient trust in the technology.

"Accessing the Latest Developments in Liquid Biopsies" (Lauren Leiman and Jenn Dickey) [#148] ●Key challenges include minimizing false positives (maximizing “sensitivity”) and minimizing false negatives (maximizing “specificity”), determining appropriate patient populations for testing, and developing tests that provide actionable clinical information.

●Current multi-cancer early detection tests are still evolving. They're not yet ready to replace existing screening methods like mammograms. Research is refining biomarker identification and establishing clinical standards. Early detection may provide lead time, but not improve your outcome. How should you decide which service provider you should select for your liquid biopsy?

●Clinical evidence: Look for providers with robust published research and clinical validation studies for your specific cancer type, consult with your medical team ●Test specificity: Evaluate the test's performance in terms of sensitivity and specificity for your particular diagnostic or monitoring needs ●Comprehensiveness : Check the breadth of genomic profiling and the number of cancer types the test can detect ●Regulatory approvals : Prefer providers with FDA clearance or CE marking ●Insurance coverage : Verify if the test is reimbursed by your insurance ●Turnaround time: Consider the speed of test results ●Cost: Compare pricing across different providers ●Reputation: Research the provider's track record and reviews from medical professionals How can you access liquid biopsies, e.

g., tips for persuading your doctor that you should get a liquid biopsy, navigating reimbursement?

●Research specific liquid biopsy tests relevant to your cancer type or situation, including talking with peers ●Bring scientific literature and recent studies to your doctor demonstrating the test's potential value ●Ask specifically about molecular profiling and whether a liquid biopsy could provide additional insights into your treatment ●If your doctor is hesitant, request a referral to an oncologist more familiar with liquid biopsy technologies ●Check with your insurance provider about coverage - some tests are now being reimbursed, especially for certain cancer types like non-small cell lung cancer ●Consider clinical trials that might provide access to liquid biopsy testing How can you learn more about liquid biopsies in cancer care?

th your insurance provider about coverage - some tests are now being reimbursed, especially for certain cancer types like non-small cell lung cancer ●Consider clinical trials that might provide access to liquid biopsy testing How can you learn more about liquid biopsies in cancer care? ●Visit the BLOODPAC website for resources and educational materials; offer to provide the patient perspective on the development and implementation of liquid biopsy technologies

"Accessing the Latest Developments in Liquid Biopsies" (Lauren Leiman and Jenn Dickey) [#148] ●Contact Lauren Leiman at lauren@bloodpac.org or Jenn Dickey at jennifer.dickey@labcorp.

com ●Review educational resources from cancer research organizations that explain the current uses and potential of liquid biopsies; read scientific publications from diagnostic companies; follow ongoing clinical trials and research; attend medical conferences that feature liquid biopsy research ●Consult with oncologists who are familiar with the latest liquid biopsy technologies ●Join patient advocacy groups focused on cancer research ●See previous webinars we have had on liquid biopsies, such as ○"Liquid Biopsies" (Peter Kuhn and Stephanie Shishido) [#23] ○“Testing Your RNA with Liquid Biopsies” (Alex Rolland) [#116] ○“Using Predictive Biomarkers and Liquid Biopsies to Personalize Treatment for Prostate Cancer” (Andy Armstrong) [#64] ○“The Latest Tests for Personalized Cancer Care” (Tony Magliocco) [#89] ○“Using RNA Sequencing to Guide Treatment Decisions for Advanced Cancer Patients“ (Gitte Pederson) [#42] The information and opinions expressed on this website or platform, or during discussions and presentations (both verbal and written) are not intended as health care recommendations or medical advice by Cancer Patient Lab, its principals, presenters, participants, or representatives for any medical treatment, product, or course of action.

You should always consult a doctor about your specific situation before pursuing any health care program, treatment, product or other course of action that might affect your health. For the video recording of this conversation, please see here. For a transcript of the conversation, please see here. For the slides, please see here.

"Accessing the Latest Developments in Liquid Biopsies" (Lauren Leiman and Jenn Dickey) [#148] Meeting Notes KEYWORDS Liquid biopsy, cancer patient, blood profiling, White House Cancer Moonshot, frameworks, standards, data aggregation, regulatory issues, reimbursement, accessibility, early detection, multi-cancer, clinical trials, patient advocacy.