Liquid biopsy approved: Making progress... - SHARE Metastatic ...

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Liquid biopsy approved

Francesca10 profile image
13 Replies

Making progress. The biopsy for Pic mutation has been approved. The test will check for 100 mutations and what treatments are specific to each mutation. Supposed to start xeloda this week. Test takes 2-3 weeks. Costs a fortune. My doc’s office put in for financial assistance for the test for me and I got the call tonight it is 100% covered by the foundation that does it. Baby steps but going forward.

♥️Frances

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Francesca10
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13 Replies
nstonerocks profile image
nstonerocks

That is fabulous. I’m going to bring it up at my next visit while I still have great insurance. Keep us posted n

Mets1 profile image
Mets1

I’m so happy for you, Francesca! I know this has been a very difficult time on your journey. I have a lot of progression and will be starting my second line of treatment and will be right behind you on the Xeloda plan. I have you in my thoughts and prayers this is your miracle drug! I am curious if our biopsies are the same or different. Stay strong! Tami

Francesca10 profile image
Francesca10

Hi Tami

The liquid biopsy I am told is a special vial of blood. Piece of cake compared to everything. With you♥️

Mets1 profile image
Mets1 in reply to Francesca10

I had some type of blood draw I’m thinking it was called genomic testing—I was not hearing too clearly at the time. I also had a liver biopsy. More to come! Praying our testing helps improve treatment results.

Red71 profile image
Red71

Wonderful! It will be so nice to know that you are really getting the treatment that you need. And getting it all paid for...icing on the cake!

mariootsi profile image
mariootsi

Wonderful news Frances!

Hope they can then target your treatment more specifically!

My ONC just ordered the liquid biopsy for me last week. Here are the details of it: How does Guardant360® work?

Efficacy test for targeted drugs

In the blood of a cancer patient in an advanced stage there is cellfree DNA from cancer cells, which detached from the tumor and circulates in the blood (ctDNA, circulating tumor DNA). This ctDNA is gained from the blood sample of a patient and analysed via a moleculargenetic method (sequencing) if specific clinical relevant alterations of the genes on the DNA (mutations) are present.

Simply put, cancer occurs when the DNA of a normal cell in the body is damaged and thus mutations arise. These mutations lead to an uncontrolled division of cells and this finally leads to the development of a tumor.

Targeted Therapies were developed to attack tumors at specific mutations. These mutations are point mutations, indels, fusions and amplifications of genes. The presence of specific mutations plays a role in the response to corresponding targeted drugs. After performing the liquid biopsy, by means of the presence of specific mutations in a patient it can be assumed which targeted drugs could be an effective therapy option and which drugs will probably not work. For the effective drugs both already approved targeted drugs and drugs in a clinical trial are regarded. Therefore patients are given the opportunity to inform about suitable clinical trials and perhaps taking part in them.

The following 73 genes of the patients are analyzed by Guardant360® for point mutations (all 73 genes), indels (23 genes), amplifications (18 genes) and fusions (6 genes). This list is updated if new research findings are available.

The latest list you can find on the homepage of Guardant Health (guardanthealth.com/).

hopenowandtomorrow profile image
hopenowandtomorrow in reply to hopenowandtomorrow

I got the results! I am not positive on any of the 73+ mutations it tests for. The conclusion was that I am responding well to current treatment not to have any of the mutations they tested for. That was good to know.

Additionally, I got a separate test for the Pi3K mutation and I am positive for that. Glad to know I have a targeted treatment option with the Pi3K!

❤️🙏❤️

blms profile image
blms

Great info! Thanks!!

Teddielottie profile image
Teddielottie

I am so pleased that you are able to have this opportunity and will keep 🤞x

PLASEM profile image
PLASEM

Good that is going to be great to have more specific treatment

I had one too waiting for the results

SoCalLady profile image
SoCalLady

Keep us posted, and let us know how you're doing on Xeloda too. Guess if you're approved for Piqray, you'll be taken off Xeloda?

Francesca10 profile image
Francesca10 in reply to SoCalLady

I really don’t know. I am going to an allergist now because a slight rash came out on 4th day of xeloda so oncologist stopped it. Have to restart it but I still have bad sciatica pain and nothing is working for it. I see my primary in the morning and am hoping he can give me some relief from this pain. Biopsy results take 2-3 weeks.

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