Why biomarker testing should be routine in all NSCLC

Why biomarker testing should be routine in all NSCLC

A major new study has added real weight to the case for broad biomarker testing in non-small cell lung cancer.

Published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the paper analysed molecular profiling data from 82,328 people with lung cancer, making it the largest dataset of its kind published so far. The findings showed actionable genomic alterations in 35.1% of cases overall, including 45.8% in adenocarcinoma, 40.9% in adenosquamous carcinoma and 29.1% in sarcomatoid carcinoma.

This strengthens the case for testing beyond the narrow assumptions that can still shape practice. The authors conclude that biomarker prevalence across many histological subtypes is sufficient for all NSCLC cases to be considered for biomarker workup.

This matters for people across Europe. Biomarker testing helps guide treatment decisions, identify targetable drivers and make precision medicine possible. But access is still uneven, and people can miss out when testing is delayed, limited by local practice, or not built properly into diagnostic pathways. Lung Cancer Europe has consistently called for timely and equitable access to innovation, including biomarker testing, and for accurate and timely diagnosis as a basic part of good lung cancer care.

The message from this dataset is clear. Broad biomarker testing in NSCLC should not be treated as optional or selective. If testing is what helps shape the next step in care, it needs to happen early and routinely.