As CRC affects younger and more diverse populations, emerging tests for CRC biomarkers provide enormous utility for diagnosis. However, misdiagnosis of CRC, shifting demographics of those afflicted with CRC, and patient unfamiliarity with symptoms create challenges in identifying CRC. In this episode of Inside the Lab, hosts Dr. Ali Brown and Lotte Mulder are joined by Dr. Melissa Taggart, a board-certified pathologist at MD Cancer Center and Karla Valencia, a laboratory manager at MD Anderson Cancer Center to discuss the utility of biomarker testing for CRC.  

The hosts are also joined by Sarah Claeys, who was diagnosed with Stage I CRC in 2020 and is now actively fighting Stage IV recurrence with metastatic disease primarily in the liver, and ASCP Patient Champion Heather Tucker, who suffered from misdiagnosis for years before being diagnosed for CRC. She completed treatment 5 years ago. Sarah and Heather share their experiences with seeking both diagnosis and treatment, and provide insights on what information related to biomarkers were most valuable to them. 

Topics Covered in this podcast include:  

• How have tests for CRC evolved recently, and which biomarkers they test for; 
• How laboratory quality control is used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of colorectal cancer biomarker test results; 
• Factors involved with validating and implementing new biomarker assays for CRC in the laboratory; 
• Handling pre-analytical variables and potential interferences that may affect the interpretation of biomarker test results for colorectal cancer; 
• How pathologists integrate molecular and biomarker findings into pathology reports; 
• What information related biomarkers was most valuable from a patients’ perspective was most valuable when seeking treatment for CRC, as well as patient advice for healthcare professionals, including pathologists and laboratory professionals, regarding laboratory testing, including biomarker testing. 

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