Biomarkers and Tumor Biomarker Testing

Understanding the role of biomarkers and tumor biomarker testing in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

 

What are Biomarkers?

Generally speaking, cancer biomarkers are measurable changes in body substances (like blood or cells) that suggest the presence of cancer.

Biomarkers can be genes, proteins, or other substances that are present in cancer cells. They can also be substances that are around the cancer cells or released by the cancer cells and found elsewhere in the body (like in the blood).

Biomarker Testing of the Tumor

Tumor biomarker testing offers a blueprint of what is going on in a tumor and provides detailed information about a tumor’s cellular makeup. A tumor biomarker test tells you and your doctor more about the subtype of your cancer, including certain characteristics of your cancer cells.

Tumor biomarker testing is also sometimes called molecular profiling, molecular testing, genomic testing, tumor marker testing, mutation testing, or somatic testing.

Unlike genetic testing, which shows if there are changes in specific genes present in all cells in your body, tumor biomarker testing shows if there are changes in specific genes and proteins in your cancer cells.

Common Tumor Biomarkers for Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancers

Biomarkers have different names which are often 3 or 4-letter abbreviations that may also contain numbers. Depending on what tumor biomarker tests are performed, your tumor biomarker test results could include: 

• HRD (homologous recombination deficiency)/LOH (loss of heterozygosity)
• MMR (mismatch repair)
• MSI (micro-satellite instability)
• TMB (tumor mutational burden)
• Folate Receptor alpha (FRalpha, FOLR1)
• HER2
• Genes known to be associated with cancer (BRCA1/2, TP53, BRAF, NTRK, RET, etc.)

When is Tumor Biomarker Testing Completed?

It is recommended that all people newly diagnosed with ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer have biomarker testing done on their tumor.

• I​f you have high-grade serous ovarian cancer, you may receive HRD testing alone or comprehensive tumor biomarker testing at the time of diagnosis. A comprehensive tumor biomarker test looks for a large number of cancer-associated biomarkers.
• If you have a rare type of ovarian cancer (for example, low-grade serous, clear cell, or mucinous), it is recommended that you receive comprehensive tumor biomarker testing at diagnosis.
  • If you are not sure what type of ovarian cancer you have, ask your doctor for this information. You can also find this information on your surgical and/or pathology report. Learn more about the different types of ovarian cancer. 

Tumor biomarker testing may also be recommended at the time of ovarian cancer recurrence. Testing of a recurrent tumor sample may give your doctor important new information to guide your next treatment.

• If you only received HRD biomarker testing at diagnosis, comprehensive tumor biomarker testing is recommended if you have a recurrence.

Tumor Biomarker Testing and Targeted Therapies

Your tumor biomarker test results may help your doctor select targeted therapies that might be useful to treat your specific cancer. Targeted therapies may have the potential to stop or slow the growth of your cancer. Additionally, tumor biomarker test results may also help you and your doctor find clinical trials that are appropriate for you. As research progresses and new targeted therapies are developed and approved, additional tumor biomarker testing may be ordered to inform your treatment options.

 

Clearity's expert team can help you understand your tumor biomarker test results and also help you find clinical trials that are right for you. Learn more and get connected. 

 

 

Key Points:

• Tumor biomarker testing is a look at the molecular makeup of your tumor.
• Tumor biomarker testing is recommended for all people diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
• Tumor biomarker testing may be done on a sample of the tumor taken during surgery or biopsy or on a blood or cancerous fluid sample.
• Tumor biomarker testing may allow your doctor to match drugs to your specific cancer.
• Tumor biomarker testing may be ordered again at the time of a recurrence or to see if you are a candidate for newly emerging targeted therapies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check Out These Additional Resources:

Cancer Support Community - Precision Medicine: Overview

Cancer Support Community - Talking About Biomarkers Worksheet

Video: You and Ovarian Cancer - Expert Video: How is biomarker testing done and what biomarkers are looked at when deciding on treatment for ovarian cancer (3 minutes)

FORCE - Biomarker Tests and Cancer Treatment

 

 

 

Source:

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2023). NCCN guidelines for patients: Ovarian cancer. https://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/content/PDF/ovarian-patient.pdf 

 

 

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