by Grant Jonson
The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is responsible for determining any differences in cell growth, production and appearance within the human body and it is widely recognised that EGFR is an important factor in all forms of cancer treatment. Scientists have developed specialist tyrosine kinase inhibitors which form an important part of drugs used in the treatment of solid tumors that are commonly found in the breast, ovaries, colon, head and neck.EGFR mutations or differences are seen in around 10-15% of cancer patients and it is these patients that have been known to respond well to certain anti-EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. So the purpose of conducting an EGFR mutation test is to find out, and identify, whether the cancer patient already has a mutation and ultimately to be able to select the best course of therapy for that patient's particular needs. Al that is needed for the EGFR test is a sample of tumor tissue.
An EGFR test may be done at the very outset of a patient's diagnosis or it may be given to a patient with cancer who is not responding to chemotherapy. An EGFR does not diagnose a condition but it gives doctors more information relating to the characteristics of the tumor, a patient's overall prognosis and what sort of treatment is likely to be the best option. It can can also be used to ascertain how aggressive the cancer is and whether or not it is likely to respond to chemotherapy.
Not all laboratories carry out EGFR tests and if your doctor has to send a sample to a reference laboratory then it can take a few weeks for the results to come back. We understand what an anxious time this can be and so we offer a testing service with a turn around time of between 5-7 days since we know that the earliest possible diagnosis and treatment lends itself to higher success results.
About the Author
Clarient is a leader in cancer diagnostics, dedicating ourselves to collaborative relationships with the healthcare community as we run molecular tests for Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Leukemia and Lymphoma. This article is written by Grant Jonson and provided in courtesy of EGFR, offering diagnostics EGFR Testing.
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