Is genetic testing required before taking brigatinib?

Genetic testing is indeed required before taking brigatinib. Brigatinib is a targeted drug, mainly targeting patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. This means that brigatinib can only exert its best efficacy when there is an ALK gene mutation in the patient's tumor cells. Therefore, confirming whether a patient carries an ALK gene mutation through genetic testing is a prerequisite for choosing brigatinib treatment.

Genetic testing can help avoid unnecessary drug use. There are many types of genetic mutations in lung cancer, and different targeted drugs target different genetic mutations. If patients blindly use brigatinib without genetic testing, not only may they not be able to obtain the expected therapeutic effect, but they may also cause unnecessary side effects and economic burden. Through genetic testing, doctors can choose the most appropriate targeted drugs for patients, thereby improving treatment effects and reducing adverse reactions.

Genetic testing can also help doctors predict a patient's sensitivity to brigatinib. Different patients may have different responses to drugs. Genetic testing can assess a patient's sensitivity to brigatinib, thereby providing a reference for doctors to adjust treatment plans.

From the perspective of clinical trials and practical applications, genetic testing is also a necessary step before taking brigatinib. In the clinical trial of brigatinib, the selected patients were all patients with non-small cell lung cancer who were confirmed to be ALK positive by genetic testing. The efficacy and safety data in these patients provide important basis for the use of brigatinib. Therefore, in practical applications, in order to ensure the effectiveness and safety of drugs, genetic testing of patients is also required.

References:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/brigatinib