Test Your Biomarkers
Why Biomarkers?
Before beginning a treatment plan, it's important to ask about biomarkers. Biomarkers can help you understand what your tumor is made of, and they can also let you know what treatments you may qualify for or which treatments are unlikely to work. Many clinical trials are designed around biomarkers. Biomarkers are the backbone of personalized medicine.
Biomarker Basics
Test first. Test early. The best treatment for your cancer is personal.
Biomarkers are the backbone of personalized medicine.
Actionable biomarkers impact a treatment plan now, oftentimes there’s an FDA-approved drug associated with the biomarker.
CLDN18.2
IDH
NRG1 Fusion
FGFR
HRR
PD-L1
EGFR
PIK3CA/mTOR pathway
HER2 (ERBB2)
DPYD
HPV
MSI-H/dMMR
Emerging biomarkers are showing promise in clinical trials and may impact treatment plans in the future.
DAXX/ATRX/MEN1
Wnt pathway
POLE / POLD1
Clinical Trials
Most clinical trials exploring new cancer drugs will require biomarker testing. Clinical trials are where up-and-coming biomarkers become star players, where experimental approaches to treating a cancer become the standard-of-care. Clinical trials are truly the future of medicine. There are clinical trials available for patients of every GI cancer type and nearly every biomarker.
Biomarkers and biomarker testing
"I wish I had known how important therapy is as soon as I heard the diagnosis. Cancer is a heavy word that's hard to carry alone."
–
Daniel Garza
DIAGNOSIS:
"Work at preventing social and emotional isolation. You may need to seek out people who have also faced cancer, and therefore understand your thoughts and feelings in ways that "muggles" (people who haven't had cancer) simply cannot. Or you may benefit from talking with a professional therapist. But just don't ignore your mental health as you fight to restore your physical health."
–
Jud Kimmel
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage IV SI-NET
"As a caregiver, my advice is to find time amidst the chaos to take care of yourself (even if it's just enjoying a bowl of ice cream by yourself!), and to share moments and activities with your loved one that do not revolve around cancer."
–
Alex Hernandez
DIAGNOSIS:
"Looking back, I wish I had known how powerful self-advocacy could be. The early signs were there, but they were misattributed by my PCP, and I didn’t yet know how to trust my instincts or push for answers. I can’t help but wonder how things might have been different if I’d known then what I know now."
–
Jennifer Abregana
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage 4 colorectal cancer
"When you get a diagnosis, take it one day at a time. One task at a time. It's a big hill to climb, but every day is a success and eventually you'll get to the top of that mountain."
–
Hans Rueffert
DIAGNOSIS:
Gastric cancer
"Having a voice in research is needed everywhere."
–
Dave Chuter
DIAGNOSIS:
"We have the wrong idea that colorectal cancers or GI cancers only affect the older population. It's not real. We've seen the numbers. It's important to recognize the trend, and also a a patient, recognize the symptoms and advocate for yourself. If you're not being believed and taken care of, look for second opinions. "
–
Mila Ogalla Toledo
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage III colorectal cancer
"I tell patients: Make sure you're on a good, healthy, varied diet; avoid alcohol; don't smoke; look after your mental health, and get good sleep. The main thing I'm focused on is exercise. There are international guidelines, and if you adhere to them, you can expect more people to survive and reduction in recurrence. "
–
Steve Rowley
DIAGNOSIS:
Colorectal cancer
"When a doctor said 'You're fine,' I trusted my gut instead, and that choice saved my life."
–
Sonya Walker
DIAGNOSIS:
Appendix
"Advocacy can be love put into action: ask questions, write things down, seek answers and trust that what you know about yourself—or the person you love—belongs in every conversation."
–
Andrea Katz
DIAGNOSIS:
"Listen to your gut! Listen to your body and trust your instincts, as an earlier diagnosis matters!"
–
Pamela Deasy
DIAGNOSIS:
Pancreatic Cancer
"Silence will not make cancer go away — I know, because I tried it, and it nearly cost me my life twice"
–
(COL, Ret.) Dr. Lawrence Henry Ph.D.
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage IV Colorectal Cancer
"Learn as much as you can because knowledge is power about how you're treated."
–
Ceri Steele
DIAGNOSIS:
Squamous cell esophageal cancer
"Be aware of the early and unusual signs of colorectal cancer so we can diagnose it earlier and prevent metastatic cancer."
–
Moritz Dapprich
DIAGNOSIS:
"Advocate for yourself and be informed. It's really important to see yourself as part of your medical team."
–
Claire Swan
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage IV Bowel Cancer
"I went from Stage IV cancer to a 12-year survivor. My advice? Be the captain of your own ship. Don't fight the mental battle alone—find your community and your hope."
–
Steve Melen
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage IV stomach cancer
"Being generally healthy, it came as quite a shock that I had Stage IV stomach cancer..."
–
Javier Florez
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage IV Gastric Cancer
BIOMARKER:
"I am the mother of two young boys, and at first thought my symptoms could be attributed to a common intestinal bug going around our community."
–
Lauren Donithan
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage IV hereditary diffuse gastric cancer
BIOMARKER:
"Doctors said they thought the condition had been progressing for four or five years."
–
Bruce Shipman
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage IV Gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma
BIOMARKER:
"My struggles with stomach problems and gastrointestinal issues started when I was in high school..."
–
Uroosa Khalid
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage IV stomach cancer
BIOMARKER:
"Because I did have biomarker testing and tested positive, I was able to participate in this clinical trial..."
–
Terri Brady
DIAGNOSIS:
Stage IV cancer in the GI junction of the esophagus and stomach
BIOMARKER:
Thank you to our program sponsors
