Biopsy: when it is used?

There are different types of cancer, such as breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer, which develop due to various genetic and environmental factors, such as the abuse of smoking and alcoholic beverages, pollution, poor diet, low physical activity, and obesity. With biopsy, patients with suspected cancer are able to get a definitive and safe diagnosis.

Approximately 1,000 people in Italy are diagnosed with cancer every day. This is a very significant number, underscoring the strong impact of cancer pathology 1 . There has, however, been a decline in the mortality rate caused by cancers. This is a very important achievement and is possible because of the strong emphasis on the role of prevention, widespread screening, and improved treatment 1 .

Recent years are witnessing the development of personalized medicine in the field of oncology. Thanks to this new modality, patients can fight the disease with a range of modern, personalized treatments that rely on specific molecular investigations. Through biopsy sampling of the tumor, a molecular profile can be obtained that allows physicians to find a personalized therapeutic strategy for each patient.

All cancers are not the same; they affect different organs and tissues and originate from cellular abnormalities. Cells have the role of taking care of the growth of the organism. If normal function is lost in a healthy cell, the cell may go into altered biological phenomena, beginning to multiply uncontrollably and without physiological necessity. The acquisition of these abnormalities is the basis of malignancies 2 .

The patient, with suspected cancer, undergoes various diagnostic tests such as CT or MRI scans. Thanks to the biopsy, it is possible to have a definitive diagnosis of the cancerous nature of the cells. There are two types of biopsy: solid biopsy, which is performed by taking a tissue sample, and liquid biopsy, which consists of a blood or urine sample that is then subjected to molecular analysis.

Solid biopsy is an invasive investigation that confirms or denies the presence of a tumor. Its role is very important towards therapy, as based on the results of the examination the specialist can direct the patient to the most appropriate type of treatment and care.

Cancer treatment starts with the study of the genome, which is the set of genetic information deposited in the DNA sequence. Starting with DNA sequencing of cancer cells, one can understand what alterations drive a cell to become cancerous. Precision OncoTest SB1 Is a genetic test that relies on genome (DNA) and transcriptome (RNA) sequencing and quantitative proteomic analysis for comprehensive molecular profiling of the patient’s tumor tissues.

Through the results of this test, a complete molecular and oncological picture can be obtained so that the specialist can develop personalized therapies for each patient. All that is needed to perform Precision OncoTest SB1 is a tissue sample collected from the most recent biopsy and a blood sample.

For cancer prevention, it is always very important to have a healthy lifestyle, follow a healthy and balanced diet and perform all screening examinations regularly. Also very important are the latest generation of genetic tests, which can provide comprehensive and valid results in defining personalized care for a cancer patient. For any doubts, it is always a good idea to consult a specialist.