Importance of Molecular Classification

Molecular classification of tumors with assays like CancerTYPE ID can be beneficial for determining the cancer type in patients with unclear or unknown primary cancers, says F. Anthony Greco, MD. Next-generation sequencing can then be performed using the same biopsy. This can help to guide targeted treatment, including in malignancies of the lung, colon, and breast. Understanding the cancer type and applying the appropriate treatment improves patient outcomes, states Greco.

If CancerTYPE ID results show that a patient has a high probability of having lung cancer, this information can help direct clinicians to look for abnormalities that are common in lung cancer, says Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD. Clinicians may then be able to identify actionable mutations in EGFR or ALK from molecular testing. Physicians should understand the importance of molecular testing in cancers, comments Ramalingam, which is particularly valuable during the time of diagnosis in advanced stage disease.