Empower Your Fight Against Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is deeply driven by targetable genetic mutations. Explore how preserving your lung tumor tissue can dramatically accelerate your matching to cutting-edge immunotherapies and bespoke clinical trials.
Talk to a Care SpecialistWhat is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer broadly divides into Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC). It is one of the most genetically diverse and aggressively mutating solid tumors.
While historically difficult to treat, the recent explosion in biomarker discoveries and targeted inhibitor drugs has made comprehensive tissue analysis the most vital step after diagnosis.
What Does Lung Cancer Do?
Lung tumors restrict respiratory function and are highly prone to rapid systemic metastasis.
- Respiratory Compromise: Masses block airways and fluid accumulates, drastically reducing oxygen processing capabilities.
- Neurological & Skeletal Spread: If unchecked, lung cancer commonly spreads to the brain and bones, altering cognitive and physical function.
- Systemic Wasting: The metabolic demands of the aggressive tumor lead to significant weight loss and fatigue.
Current Treatment Options
Surgical Resection
Lobectomies or wedge resections aim to remove the localized cancerous mass and compromised lymph nodes.
Targeted Therapy
Identifying mutations like EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 dictates the use of highly specific oral inhibitors instead of broad chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy (PD-L1 inhibitors)
Drugs that block the pathways cancer cells use to hide, unchaining the body's immune system to attack the lungs.
Why Bank Your Living Lung Tissue?
With lung cancer, what drives the tumor one month may mutate the next. Standard small needle biopsies often fail to capture enough tissue for thorough, repeated testing. Banking large resections ensures you never run out of material for emerging biomarker trials.
Comprehensive Biomarker Sequencing
Having ample living tissue guarantees failure-proof next-generation sequencing for rare targetable mutations.
T-Cell Activation Testing
Model your tumor's exact immune microenvironment to verify if PD-1/PD-L1 blockers will actually succeed.
Resistance Mapping
When lung cancer mutates around a targeted drug, baseline tissue helps triangulate the structural shifts.
Organotypic Culturing
Replicate your specific pulmonary tumor structures to serve as a testing ground for novel systemic agents.