Joshua Bauml, MD, assistant professor, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, discusses the utility of liquid biopsy in metastatic non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Liquid biopsy is frequently used in metastatic disease, says Bauml.

Liquid biopsy may aid in identifying resistance mechanisms in patients who are progressing on targeted therapy, says Bauml. Additionally, the use of liquid biopsy up front could be helpful in the absence of adequate tumor tissue.

An identified alteration from a liquid biopsy is reliable and should be acted upon, explains Bauml. However, physicians should order a tissue biopsy for patients whose liquid biopsy results are negative as the sensitivity of a liquid biopsy is around 70% to 80%.