Dr. Selin Kurnaz interviewed Andrew Schorr and Esther Schorr from Patient Power at #ASCO2022

Finding the best treatments for cancer patients requires testing to determine the type and stage of their malignancy. Thanks to advances in genomics, we now know the genetic underpinnings of many types of cancer. That’s why biomarker testing has become so important.

We spoke with Andrew and Esther Schorr of Patient Power, an organization that helps people with cancer seek out and receive the right care, about biomarker testing at #ASCO2022. What are biomarker tests and why are they so important in cancer care?

Biomarker tests allow us to identify the unique profile of genetic mutations, proteins, and other factors that may be driving a given cancer. Biomarkers are often used to diagnose and monitor a patient’s cancer. But, even more exciting, biomarkers can be used to identify patients who are candidates for new targeted therapies that are designed to treat malignancies that are linked to specific genetic mutations, for example.

This new, personalized approach to treating cancer comes with important benefits. First, many targeted therapies are more effective than older, standard treatments. Also, cancer therapies frequently cause side effects, which can be severe. But precise, targeted therapies often cause fewer unintended effects, making these treatments more tolerable. What’s more, when a cancer patient undergoes biomarker testing, the results produce valuable new information that contributes to the advance of medical science.

For any given form of cancer, there are dozens and perhaps hundreds of clinical trials underway around the world. Keeping track of every one of these studies would be impossible for any clinician. But Massive Bio’s advanced technology platform, powered by artificial intelligence, is designed to help patients get matched to clinical trials of potentially life-saving therapies, with stunning speed and precision.

When a patient interested in participating in a clinical trial reaches out to us, but has not undergone adequate clinical testing, including for biomarkers, my team works with them to learn about all of their options. For information on clinical trials, don’t hesitate to contact us and let us find the most appropriate treatment for you.

You can find our full interview with Andrew Schorr and Esther Schorr here