Genetic Testing May Offer More Through Clinical Trial Matching

In addition to identifying mutations related to their diagnosis, genetic testing may also offer patients with cancer the benefit of identifying potentially helpful clinical trials, according to Dr. Elisa Krill-Jackson, hematologist and oncologist at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

At the 2020 CURE® Educated Patient Breast Cancer Summit in Miami, Florida, CURE® spoke with Krill-Jackson about the importance of genetic testing and how it can complement clinical trial participation.

Transcription:

I think it’s really important to ask your physician, “Would I qualify for a clinical trial?” When we actually do a genomic test, (with) the particular mutations they find, they list what therapies would be good for this, what therapies wouldn’t be good and whether there are any clinical trials available.

A clinical trial may not be the best option at all points in treatment, but I think at many points in treatment it is a really good option for our patients. It helps advance the field, and our patients get early access to drugs that really may be lifesaving.