PROSCA/BLADDR 2023 | Challenges in the clinical adoption of liquid biopsy

Bram De Laere, PhD, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, discusses the challenges of translating liquid biopsy assays from academic research to routine clinical practice. While academic research utilizes these assays as treatment selectors, implementing them in the clinic requires extensive training for molecular diagnostics departments, along with educational initiatives. Reimbursement limitations, particularly in countries with fixed prices for diagnostic tests, pose a barrier to widespread adoption due to the associated costs. Dr De Laere emphasizes the need for addressing reimbursement issues through lobbying and cost-efficiency assessments. Additionally, compliance with upcoming in vitro diagnostic (IVD) regulations adds complexity to establishing lab-developed tests. Dr De Laere mentions ongoing trials like the Phase III AMPLITUDE (NCT04497844) trial, illustrating how liquid biopsy is employed to screen and select patients for targeted treatments based on genomic profiles. This interview took place at the PROSCA/BLADDR 2023 conference in Malaga, Spain.

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