United to BEAT Lung Cancer
It starts with biomarker education, awareness and testing. Learn how early diagnosis, biomarker testing and targeted treatment can save lives.
About every two minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with lung cancer. While lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., we have seen incredible progress in the survival rate thanks in part to advancements in biomarker testing and new treatment availability.
For most, biomarker testing is now considered a standard part of the lung cancer diagnostic process, especially for individuals with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unfortunately, not enough people are getting biomarker testing, especially within historically underrepresented communities. Access to biomarker testing is not just a medical issue; it’s an equity issue.
Everyone diagnosed with lung cancer deserves the chance to receive treatment that is most likely to work for their specific type of cancer. No matter where someone lives, what insurance they have, or what their background is, they should have the same opportunity to benefit from the most advanced treatments available. Ensuring universal access means giving every patient the best possible chance at longer survival, better quality of life, and more treatment options, all of which can empower individuals in their efforts to beat lung cancer.
What is Biomarker Testing?
Biomarker testing, sometimes called molecular testing or genomic testing, looks closely at a tumor’s DNA and the levels of certain proteins. This deeper look can reveal specific genetic changes, or biomarkers, that help guide treatment decisions.
Biomarker testing is the only way to identify the genetic and molecular tumor features that guide personalized treatment decisions. These results can determine whether someone may benefit from targeted therapies, immunotherapies, or clinical trials. Without biomarker testing, patients may miss out on treatments that could significantly improve their outcomes.
If you’ve been diagnosed with lung cancer, understanding the power of biomarker testing can be one of the most important steps in shaping your treatment path. It ensures that your care team has the information they need to recommend the treatment options most likely to work for your cancer.
Health disparities persist when it comes to lung cancer care and biomarker testing.
Health disparities in lung cancer influence access to biomarker testing and quality care. These gaps can especially effect Black communities, particularly Black men, differently than their white counterparts. There’s a need to increase biomarker testing rates in communities most impacted by lung cancer disparities. It’s important to prepare the right questions to ask your doctor from the beginning and to stay involved throughout your treatment plan.
Screening and Early Detection Is Key
Diagnosing lung cancer begins at the time of detection through lung cancer screening. Most commonly, doctors suspect somebody might have lung cancer when they see something on an imaging test, such as a CT scan, that looks like it could be a tumor.
Using a low-dose CT (LDCT), an X-ray machine which takes multiple pictures of your lungs, lung cancer can be detected before any symptoms appear and may be easier to treat.
How Screening and Biomarker Testing Lead to More Treatment Options
The goal of lung cancer screening is simple: catch lung cancer as early as possible, when it is most treatable and when patients have the greatest number of treatment options. When a low‑dose CT (LDCT) scan finds a possible tumor early, doctors can move quickly to confirm the diagnosis and perform comprehensive biomarker testing during a biopsy.
Biomarker testing examines the tumor’s genetic and molecular features and can identify specific mutations or markers that drive the cancer’s growth. The results help determine whether a patient may benefit from targeted therapy, which are treatments designed to attack cancer cells with those exact mutations. Targeted therapies often work more precisely and may cause fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy.
Because of this, early detection combined with biomarker testing opens the door to personalized treatment plans, precision medicine, and innovative therapies that may not have been available otherwise. Catching cancer early ensures that people receive treatments tailored to the biology of their cancer, which can lead to better outcomes and more treatment options.
Even if biomarker testing does not reveal a mutation with an approved targeted therapy, there are still important treatment decisions to make. Clinical trials are actively studying new treatments for all types of lung cancer, including cancers without known biomarkers or without currently approved targeted therapies. These studies may offer access to promising therapies that could benefit you. Talk with your doctor about the availability of clinical trials to see if one is right for you. Call the Lung Cancer Helpline if you have questions or are interested in learning more about biomarker testing or lung cancer screening.
Contact a Lung Health Navigator
Speak to one of our dedicated Lung Health Navigators if you have questions or are interested in learning more about biomarker testing or lung cancer screenings.
Page last updated: June 9, 2026
