NEWS

New paper in Virchows Archiv: “External quality assessment (EQA) for tumor mutational burden: results of an international IQN path feasibility pilot scheme”

External quality assessment (EQA) for tumor mutational burden: results of an international IQN path feasibility pilot scheme Tumor mutational burden (TMB) has recently been approved as an agnostic biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, methods for TMB testing have not yet been standardized. The International Quality Network for Pathology (IQNPath) organized a pilot external quality read more…

New paper in European Journal of Cancer: “Access and quality of biomarker testing for precision oncology in Europe”

Abstract Background Predictive biomarkers are essential for selecting the best therapeutic strategy in patients with cancer. The International Quality Network for Pathology, the European Cancer Patient Coalition and the European Federation of Pharmaceuticals Industries and Associations evaluated the access to and quality of biomarker testing across Europe. Methods Data sources included surveys of 141 laboratory managers and read more…

NordiQC EQA Data and Observations for PD-L1 Biomarker Testing

NordiQC EQA Data and Observations for PD-L1 Biomarker Testing By Søren Nielsen, Director, NordiQC Immune-checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1 or PD-L1 as pembrolizumab, nivolumab, durvalumab and atezolizumab have since 2016 been approved for multiple cancers as lung carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, melanoma, breast carcinoma and many other solid cancers. At present Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for PD-L1 expression is read more…

Tumor mutation burden testing: a survey of the International Quality Network for Pathology (IQN Path)

Tumor mutation burden testing: a survey of the International Quality Network for Pathology (IQN Path) Fenizia, F., Wolstenholme, N., Fairley, J.A. et al. Virchows Arch (2021). You can access the article here: https://rdcu.be/ciMl7 Abstract While tumour mutation burden (TMB) is emerging as a possible biomarker for immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), methods for testing have not been standardised as yet. read more…

Unlocking the potential of precision medicine in Europe – Improving cancer care through broader access to quality biomarker testing

Advances in biomarker testing are having a transformative impact on cancer care, but Europe will have to overcome significant barriers in the equitable access and quality of these tests to realise their full potential, concludes an important new study released by the International Quality Network for Pathology (IQN Path), the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) and the read more…

IQN Path / EFPIA aim to raise awareness about biomarker testing in Europe and develop policy recommendations to improve access and quality

The project, launched in November 2019, was carried out throughout 2020, sometimes slowing the development, but steadily progressing, and will yield outstanding results that we are looking forward to sharing with you toward the end of February. The study was carefully devised and produced detailed results based on sound data collected from all stakeholders. We read more…

Development of EQA for fusion gene testing

Targeted therapies available for the treatment of cancer are increasingly being considered as standards of care in routine clinical practice. These therapies, such as Crizotinib for non-small cell lung cancer and Cextuximab for colorectal cancer are recommended for single tumour types. However, third generation therapies targeting fusion genes have received licensing approval and are being read more…