Cancer treatment has entered a new era. Years ago, many people with lung cancer received similar treatments because doctors had limited information about the unique biology of each person’s tumor.
Today, medicine is moving toward personalized care. Doctors can study a patient’s cancer in much greater detail and choose treatments that are more closely matched to the disease.
One of the tools that makes this possible is biomarker testing. These tests search for specific biological clues inside cancer cells.
The results can tell doctors whether certain targeted drugs or immunotherapies are likely to work. In many cases, this information is essential because choosing the wrong treatment may reduce its effectiveness and expose patients to unnecessary risks.
Despite the importance of these tests, a new study shows that many patients are waiting far too long for their results. The research, published in JCO Oncology Practice, was led by scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina’s Hollings Cancer Center.
The researchers examined biomarker testing times for different solid cancers from 2018 to 2024. They focused heavily on non-small cell lung cancer because treatment decisions for this disease increasingly depend on genetic and molecular information.
The study followed every step in the testing process. After doctors perform a biopsy and collect tissue from the tumor, someone must order biomarker testing. The tissue then needs to be sent to a specialized laboratory, where scientists perform the analysis and prepare a report.
Overall, the process has become somewhat faster. The average waiting time fell from thirty-six days to twenty-seven days over the study period. At first glance, this sounds encouraging. However, a closer look revealed an important problem.
Laboratories improved their speed considerably, but hospitals and clinics did not become faster at starting the testing process. In fact, the time taken to order the tests became slightly longer. This early delay created a bottleneck that slowed everything else.
The researchers found major differences between medical centers. Some hospitals ordered testing within about a week, while others needed more than three weeks simply to request the tests. In certain situations, patients waited nearly a month before the testing process even started.
The researchers believe many doctors are unaware of the size of this problem. Surveys have shown that physicians often think the entire process takes about two weeks. The real-world data suggest that the typical patient waits about twice as long.
These delays can have serious consequences. Lung cancer is often aggressive, and patients naturally want treatment to begin quickly. Doctors also want to help immediately. But starting treatment before biomarker results become available can be risky.
Imagine a patient who receives immunotherapy because everyone feels treatment should start right away. Weeks later, the test results reveal a gene change that would have made a targeted medicine the better choice.
Changing therapies is not always simple. Some treatment combinations may increase the risk of harmful side effects. One example is inflammation in the lungs, which can lead to breathing problems that sometimes become permanent.
There are other concerns as well. Initial treatments can cause fatigue and other side effects that weaken patients physically and emotionally. Some people may become discouraged and lose confidence in further treatment. Others may no longer qualify for research studies that could have provided access to promising new medicines.
Why does this happen if the solution seems obvious? According to the researchers, the healthcare system faces several obstacles. Some hospitals do not have specialized laboratories or staff members who are comfortable deciding which tests should be ordered.
The science of cancer genetics is evolving quickly, and keeping up with new testing recommendations can be challenging.
Financial concerns may also play a role. In the past, insurance coverage for biomarker testing was not always available. Doctors remember patients receiving large bills, and complicated reimbursement rules still exist in some situations.
At MUSC, doctors use a system called reflex testing. As soon as pathologists confirm lung cancer in a sample, they automatically start the biomarker testing process. This removes delays and speeds up decision-making. However, not every hospital has the resources to adopt such an approach.
The study also examined other cancer types. The researchers found that the greatest differences were not in shipping samples or performing laboratory analysis. The biggest problem remained the time needed to order the tests in the first place.
The findings offer an important reminder that medical breakthroughs alone are not enough. Personalized cancer treatments have created tremendous opportunities for patients, but those opportunities can be lost if healthcare systems fail to deliver information quickly.
The study suggests that doctors, hospitals, laboratories, and insurers need to work together to remove delays and create clear procedures. Every day matters when someone is living with cancer, and faster access to biomarker testing could help more patients receive the treatment that best matches their disease from the very beginning.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
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Source: Medical University of South Carolina.
