NSCLC Mutations Serum and Plasma Samples

Bay Biosciences provides high-quality, fresh frozen biopsy tissue samples. Specifically, FFPE tissue blocks with matched fresh frozen sera (serum), plasma, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) bio-fluids come from lung cancer patients diagnosed with multiple genetic mutations.

Furthermore, our team processes the sera (serum), plasma, and PBMC biofluid specimens from lung cancer patients with multiple genetic mutations and peripheral whole blood using customized collection and processing protocols.

In addition, our researchers collect fresh frozen tissue and matched biofluid samples from unique patients diagnosed with lung cancer.

Ultimately, Bay Biosciences  provides biospecimens to a valued pharmaceutical customer for research, diagnostics, discovery, and drug development.

Genes

Genes are pieces of DNA inside each of our cells. They tell the cell what to do and how to divide, which is the way cells multiply. Scientists give each gene a name to remember them.

Gene Mutations

Genes are pieces of DNA inside each of our cells. They tell the cell what to do and how to divide; consequently, this is the way cells multiply. Moreover, scientists name each gene to remember them.

On the other hand, mutations permanently change the DNA. Consequently, they can affect how a cell works. For example, they may impact how it grows and divides.

Furthermore, sometimes our parents pass mutations to us. We call these “inherited” or “hereditary” gene changes. In contrast, in lung cancer, individuals usually do not inherit mutations; instead, we call these “acquired” mutations, which occur during our lifetime.

Outside factors, such as breathing in tobacco smoke, can lead to gene mutations in your body. Additionally, air pollution, certain chemicals, and radon gas can also cause gene mutations.

Moreover, in some lung cancer cases, random events can lead to these acquired gene mutations. Consequently, the cell undergoes DNA changes without any outside trigger.

How Gene Mutations Cause Cancer?

Changes in the DNA can have two big effects:

  • It can “turn on” the genes that help our cells grow, divide, or stay alive.
  • Or it can “turn off” the genes that ensures the cells divide or die at the right time.

As a result of all these genetic changes some cells can become cancerous and grow out of control.

Types of NSCLC Genetics Mutations

Scientists are continuously working to discover new kinds of gene mutations. So far, they’ve discovered more than a dozen that are linked to Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Following are some  of the common mutations found in patients with Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC):

KRAS

  • KRAS: KRAS: This gene controls a protein called “epidermal growth factor receptor,” which helps the cells grow and divide. Women, patients who don’t smoke, and those with the adenocarcinoma type of NSCLC are more likely to have an EGFR mutation

EGFR

  • EGFR: The KRAS gene contributes to the production of a protein called K-Ras, which helps cells grow and divide. Patients with the adenocarcinoma type of NSCLC are more likely to have a KRAS mutation.

FGFRR1

  • FGFR1: A mutation in this gene also affects how the cells grow and spread, and patients with the squamous carcinoma type of NSCLC are more likely to experience this mutation.

ALK

  • ALK: In this mutation, two genes fuse together to create a new one. Furthermore, ALK mutations frequently appear in patients who never or rarely smoked and have the adenocarcinoma type of NSCLC. Additionally, younger patients, such as those in their 50s, and men are also more likely to have it.

MET

  • MET: When you have this kind of mutation, a glitch creates too many copies of the MET gene. *Consequently*, this leads cells to live too long, divide, and spread. Moreover*, if you have the squamous or adenocarcinoma types of NSCLC, this occurs.

PK3CA

  • PIK3CA: This gene influences how your cells grow and divide. Smokers are more likely to have a mutation in this gene. Having the squamous or adenocarcinoma type of NSCLC also increases this likelihood.

BRAF

  • BRAF: People with the adenocarcinoma type of NSCLC are more likely to experience a change in this gene.

ROS1

  • ROS1: This mutation resembles the ALK one. It is more likely to occur in younger individuals who have the adenocarcinoma kind of NSCLC and have not smoked.

RET

  • RET: You will encounter this type of mutation only if you have the adenocarcinoma kind of NSCLC; moreover, nonsmokers experience it more commonly.

HER2

  • HER2: This mutation on the gene, in particular, encourages the growth of cancer cells. Consequently, patients with adenocarcinoma NSCLC most often experience this. Furthermore, women and people who never or rarely smoked experience it more commonly.

NTRK

  • NTRK: In this mutation, the NTRK gene fuses with other genes. Interestingly, research shows that men and women from all age groups and NSCLC types can experience this. Additionally, smokers and nonsmokers alike can also acquire it.

MEK1

  • MEK1, a small molecular substance belonging to the family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), plays a key role in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. Therefore, blocking the MEK protein may affect tumors with mutated Ras proteins as well as other proteins that the MAPK pathway influences.

Anyone can acquire a gene mutation that causes lung cancer. However, researchers have observed that certain groups of people, such as smokers or nonsmokers, or men or women, tend to have some mutations show up more often.

Consequently, here’s how some common mutations affect the way the cancer grows and who is likely to get them.

Types of NSCLC Tumors

Your type of gene mutation often depends on the kind of lung cancer you have. **In particular,** clinicians identify three main types of NSCLC:

  • Firstly, Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The cancer originates in squamous cells, the flat cells that line the inside of the lung airways. 
  • Secondly, Adenocarcinoma: The disease starts in cells that release substances, like mucus.
  • Finally, Large Cell Carcinoma: This cancer can occur in any part of the lung.

The Stage of Cancer

After the doctor diagnoses the patient with lung cancer, they will, therefore, want to find out where the cancer is in the patient’s body. This process, in fact, is called staging.

Moreover, doctors divide lung cancers into two main types: small cell lung cancers and non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC).

Furthermore, experts identify five general stages for lung cancer and number them from stage 0 to stage 4.

Additionally, each general stage also receives a number and letter (A or B). Specifically, cancer with a lower number or the letter A has spread less than cancer with a higher number or the letter B.

Researchers can also detect lung cancer in samples before it presents as a tumor. In fact, doctors call this an “occult” or “hidden” cancer.

Moreover, early stage NSCLCs do not grow beyond the lung. Consequently, surgeons may consider surgery as an option for these tumors.

However, once cancer spreads outside the lung, healthcare providers include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy in the treatment plan.

Furthermore, some cancers spread faster than others. As a result, these cancers require different kinds of treatment.

NSCLC Genetic Mutations

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents the most common kind of lung cancer. Specifically, NSCLC accounts for 80 to 85 percent of all lung cancers.

In the past, most doctors, therefore, provided the same treatment to patients with NSCLC. This treatment, for instance, might have included surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these.

Moreover, changes in genes that control cell growth and division cause cancer. In particular, these mutations enable cells to grow out of control and form tumors.

This discovery, consequently, prompted researchers to introduce targeted drugs that address specific genetic mutations. Furthermore, targeted treatments block the signals that help certain lung cancers grow. As a result, these drugs improve survival in some people whose lung cancers have gene changes.

Gene Mutations Treatments

Certain gene mutations enable lung cancers to grow and spread. Therefore, if your test results show a positive result for one of these mutations, your doctor can prescribe a medication that specifically targets the mutation. In addition, targeted therapies block the pathways that allow NSCLC to grow and spread.

Moreover, because these drugs target the specific abnormalities that allow tumors to survive, they prove more effective against cancer than traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Consequently, targeted drugs may also produce fewer side effects.

EGFR

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) sit on the surface of some cancer cells. In addition, these proteins help the cells grow and divide. However, a mutation in the EGFR gene activates these receptors, allowing cancer cells to grow faster.

Consequently, about 10 percent of NSCLC patients and 50 percent of lung cancer patients who never smoked carry an EGFR mutation. Therefore, EGFR inhibitors block the signals that cancers with the EGFR mutation require to grow.

  • Afatinib (Gilotrif)
  • Dacomitinib (Vizimpro)
  • Erlotinib (Tarceva)
  • Gefitinib (Iressa)
  • Necitumumab (Portrazza)
  • Osimertinib (Tagrisso)

ALK

About 5 percent of NSCLCs have a change to the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene. Patients who have an ALK mutation, their cancer may respond to one of the following drugs:

  • Alectinib (Alecensa)
  • Brigatinib (Alunbrig)
  • Ceritinib (Zykadia)
  • Crizotinib (Xalkori)
  • Lorlatinib (Lorbrena)

KRAS

KRAS mutation is one of the most common lung cancer gene mutations. It’s found in about 25 percent of NSCLCs. Patients who have one of these mutations, may be able to try a new drug in a clinical trial.

MET and METex14

Mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET) gene is involved in signaling pathways that control cell growth, survival, and spread. The METex14 mutation is a type of MET mutation that’s linked to about 3 to 4 percent of NSCLCs. 

Capmatinib (Tabrecta) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a targeted treatment for the METex14 mutation.

ROS1

About one to two percent of NSCLCs have ROS1 genetic mutation. Usually, cancers that are ROS1-positive test negative for ALK, KRAS, and EGFR gene mutations.

The ROS1 mutation is similar to the ALK mutation. Some of the same drugs treat both mutations, including Xalkori and Lorbrena.

Other Gene Mutations

A few other NSCLC gene mutations have their own targeted treatments, including:

  • BRAF: dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist)
  • RET: selpercatinib (Retevmo)
  • NTRK: entrectinib (Rozlytrek) and larotrectinib (Vitrakvi)

Genetic Counseling

Genetic professionals actively provide information and support to individuals or families who have genetic disorders or may be at risk for inherited conditions, specifically as members of health care teams. For instance, your health care provider may refer you to a geneticist, a medical doctor or medical researcher, who specializes in your disease or disorder.

In this case, a medical geneticist will diagnose your disease or condition. Furthermore, many genetic diseases are so rare that only a geneticist can offer the most complete and current information about your condition.

Along with a medical geneticist, your healthcare provider may also, in addition, refer you to a physician who is a specialist in the type of disorder you have. For example, if a genetic test shows a positive result for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), consequently, your healthcare provider might refer you to an oncologist.

Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences is, indeed a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Specifically, aamples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Moreover, Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.

In fact, our biobank procures and stores fully consented, de-identified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.

Additionally, all our human tissue collections, human specimens and human bio-fluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

In particular, critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Moreover, researchers find patient’s data extremely valuable and use it to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Specifically, Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

For example fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.

Furthermore, Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Therefore, please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Types of Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

  • Firstly, Peripheral whole-blood
  • Secondly, Amniotic fluid
  • Third, Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL)
  • Moreover, Sputum
  • Furthermore, Pleural effusion
  • Next, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
  • Also, Serum (sera)
  • Likewise, Plasma
  • In addition, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
  • For example, Saliva
  • Also, Buffy coat
  • Moreover, Urine
  • Furthermore, stool samples
  • Next, Aqueous humor
  • Likewise, Vitreous humor
  • Lastly, Kidney stones (renal calculi)
  • Finally, Other bodily fluids from most diseases including cancer.

Moreover, we can also procure most human bio-specimens, furthermore; we offer special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human plasma, serum, and PBMC bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols. Additionally you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.

Furthermore, Bay Biosciences also provides human samples from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, contact us Now.

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