Advancing Early Detection and Care in Lung Cancer

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and in light of that, we’re proud to highlight the latest whitepaper commissioned by InGeNA member Thermo Fisher Scientific, produced in partnership with London Agency.

Lung cancer has traditionally held a high mortality rate, typically associated with challenges around diagnosis. These challenges lead to delays in treatment and reduced survival rates.

This publication showcases how Rapid Genomic Profiling (RGP) is transforming outcomes for Australian patients by enabling faster treatment decisions and enhancing survival rates in lung cancer diagnosis, where treatment efficiency continues to advance year-on-year.

Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer, with a large array of attributive risk factors and symptoms that are shared with a number of more common diseases. It’s one of the leading causes of death amongst Australians, accounting for approximately 17% of all cancer-related deaths in 2023. This is why adopting proven and effective genomic medicine techniques for diagnosing and treating lung cancer is more vital than ever.

With the number of lung cancer cases diagnosed each year rising, the adoption of precision oncology and genomic profiling gives clinicians better tools for identifying unique mutations and alterations in each patient. Through this, doctors can ensure the right drug is administered to the right patient at the right time. The swift identification of clinically-actionable biomarkers is crucial, as delays in treatment can be extremely detrimental to patients. Rapid turnaround time is therefore key in the fight against lung cancer. RGP is now becoming more common in Australian pathology laboratories reporting clinically-actionable targets, so that physicians and patients can decide treatment options sooner – and, therefore, save more lives.

Australia’s national lung cancer screening program will begin addressing improvements in early detection for high-risk populations as of July 2025. As the program expands, it has the potential to facilitate earlier diagnoses and genetic testing, paving the way for better patient outcomes. Since genetic profiling in lung cancer is already funded under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), its integration into patient care should be well-established.

Investing in advanced genomic medicine technologies is essential for achieving equitable healthcare access for all, leading to positive clinical outcomes in patient care. Please consider donating to a lung cancer charity of your choice, such as Lung Foundation Australia, to help improve patient outcomes in the coming years. InGeNA advocates for genomic innovations that improve health outcomes and build a healthier future for all.