Accelerating Lung Cancer Management Through Previsit Liquid Biopsy: Results From the LUNG-FAST Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genomics
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Timely molecular profiling is crucial for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment selection.
• Delays in biomarker testing often hinder prompt therapeutic decisions.
• This study addresses the need for accelerated genomic profiling in NSCLC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a nurse navigator-driven workflow for initiating liquid biopsies before initial oncology visits.
• To assess the early clinical impact of this accelerated approach.
• To determine the efficiency of liquid biopsy in identifying actionable genomic alterations in NSCLC.

Main Methods:

• The LUNG-FAST (Liquid Biopsy for Urgent Neoplastic Genomic Profiling Focused Accelerated Stratification and Testing) pilot study involved a 4-month prospective trial.
• Nurse navigators identified eligible NSCLC patients and facilitated previsit liquid biopsy orders.
• Feasibility, turnaround times, genomic findings, and early clinical outcomes were assessed.

Main Results:

• Nurse navigators identified 94% of eligible NSCLC cases.
• Liquid biopsies were ordered previsit in 62% of cases, with results available in a median of 8.5-12.5 days.
• Actionable genomic alterations were found in 34% of patients, with 45% identified by combined plasma and tissue profiling.

Conclusions:

• A nurse navigator workflow for previsit liquid biopsy is feasible in NSCLC.
• This approach identifies actionable genomic alterations and can expedite treatment decisions.
• Plasma and tissue profiling are complementary, optimizing biomarker testing workflows.