Dr. Shiller on Molecular Diagnostics in Gastrointestinal Cancers

Shirley Michelle Shiller, DO, member of the Precision Medicine Institute's Advisory Committee, Baylor University Medical Center, discusses molecular diagnostics in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

The field of molecular diagnostics is moving rapidly in the paradigm of GI cancers, says Shiller. Though a lot of technologies are coming to market, there is not enough understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each individual assay, adds Shiller. If a physician is unsure about whether a particular test will answer the question at hand, they should consult their pathologist.

Pathologists can help guide physicians to the best diagnostic test. The goal, says Shiller, is to provide the right test to the right patient at the right time. If this is done in a thoughtful and meaningful fashion, Shiller anticipates that physicians will not have as many issues with third-party payers down the line.