2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - Posters-P3.06D.07 Liquid Biopsy: Exploration of its Added Value in a Daily Practice

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The study discusses the use of liquid biopsies (LBx) in detecting genetic mutations in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, exploring its potential benefits in clinical practice compared to traditional tissue biopsies. Conducted at University Hospital Geneva, this research involved 37 recruited patients, with 26 qualifying for the study.<br /><br />Liquid biopsies are a promising alternative when tissue biopsies are difficult to obtain, leveraging next-generation sequencing (NGS) of plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). The study aimed to compare concordance and turnaround times between ctDNA NGS and tissue NGS. The average concordance between tissue and liquid biopsies was 51%, with LBx enabling treatment modifications in two cases by identifying actionable mutations for targeted therapy.<br /><br />Although the median turnaround time for both methods was 13 days, tissue biopsies had a quicker turnaround in 50% of cases, with both tests yielding results within a similar timeframe. In terms of mutation detection, liquid biopsies identified 77 variants, while tissue biopsies found 63, with liquid biopsies missing certain mutations like ALK translocation.<br /><br />Overall, 7 out of 10 driver mutations were detected by both liquid and tissue biopsies. The study concluded that while liquid biopsies occasionally failed to detect specific mutations, they identified two driver mutations missed by tissue biopsies, demonstrating their significant but complementary role in NSCLC management. Despite some limitations, the study underscores the potential of liquid biopsies in offering a viable, faster alternative when traditional biopsies are impractical, enhancing personalized treatment strategies.

Asset Subtitle

Alfredo Addeo

Meta Tag

Speaker Alfredo Addeo

Topic Pathology & Biomarkers

Keywords

liquid biopsies

NSCLC

genetic mutations

next-generation sequencing

plasma ctDNA

University Hospital Geneva

tissue biopsies

concordance

targeted therapy

personalized treatment