FDA Approves Test for Lung Cancer Detection

A resident of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Chris Manfuso is the national director of sales at Nubratori RX, a company that manufactures and compounds medications. Chris Manfuso is in charge of marketing, generating revenue, and expanding distribution.

An October 2021 Drug Topics article in the Nubratori RX newsletter announced that the FDA had approved a drug to help physicians detect lung cancer. VENTANA PD-L1 is a protein associated with programmed cell death ligand a protein connected with suppressing the immune system.

This test can be used to detect tumors in patients with stages II to IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer. The test determines which patients are eligible to receive adjuvant atezolizumab (brand name Tecentriq) immediately after surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy.

The physician extracts a small piece of tumorous tissue and sends it to the lab, which treats it with VENTANA PD-L1. If the sample contains the PD-L1 protein, it turns dark brown. Patients whose samples turn brown can receive the Tecentriq therapy. This approval is significant in the treatment of cancer. With early detection, physicians can quickly choose the treatment to halt the spread of the disease.