Dr. Weiss Discusses When to Biopsy in Lung Cancer

Jared Weiss, MD, assistant professor, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses how and when to biopsy patients for lung cancer.

A tissue biopsy is needed at diagnosis to both establish that the patient has lung cancer and to confirm the stage. Optimal practice in the frontline setting would be to have enough tissue to run PD-L1 and do molecular testing, says Weiss.

Often there is not enough tissue, or the sample is inadequate, which is when liquid biopsy should be considered, Weiss says.