What should you know about FoundationOne Liquid biopsy?

A blood sample is processed to look for circulating tumour DNA, which can be released by cancer cells into the bloodstream. The laboratory examines selected genes and reports changes that may be relevant to diagnosis, treatment selection, or resistance. The test does not remove a piece of the tumour, and it cannot detect every cancer-related change.

A result may identify an actionable finding, show no relevant alteration, or be inconclusive because there is too little tumour DNA in the sample. A negative result does not always exclude a change in the tumour. Your cancer type, prior treatment, imaging, and clinical findings remain part of the interpretation.

Ask why the test is being offered, which genes and cancer types are covered, and whether a tissue Biopsy would provide additional information. Tell the team about recent treatments and bring your pathology and medication details if requested. The blood draw is similar to other routine blood tests.

Discuss the report with an oncologist or genetics-trained clinician. A detected change may point toward a treatment option, a clinical decision, or the need for confirmation; it is not by itself a complete diagnosis or a promise that a treatment will work.

The blood draw usually needs no special recovery. Seek medical advice for persistent bleeding, increasing pain, redness, or swelling at the puncture site. Contact your oncology team promptly if you are unsure how a result affects a treatment decision or if new symptoms arise while you are waiting for the report.

What decision will this test help us make? Could my sample contain enough tumour DNA? If the result is negative or unclear, would tissue testing be useful? Does any finding affect relatives, or is it limited to the tumour?