The University of California helped enact a critically important new state law taking effect this summer. It ensures cancer patients get access to biomarker testing to ensure they are receiving the best treatment.
Biomarkers are genes, proteins and other substances that can help pinpoint the molecular drivers of cancerous tumors. Biomarker testing has become an essential part of “personalized medicine,” which tailors treatment depending on the biological makeup of tumors.
“Knowing the biology of cancer is essential to identifying the most effective treatments,” UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Director Primo “Lucky” Lara Jr. said. “Biomarkers can help doctors better see what makes certain cancers tick, allowing for a more personalized approach to diagnosing and treating the disease.”
Until this year, a lack of insurance coverage has often blocked patients from accessing biomarker testing. Authored by California State Senator Monique Limón, the new law prevents that by mandating Medi-Cal and private health plan insurers to cover medically necessary biomarker testing as of July 1.
The University of California joined the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to co-sponsor Senate Bill (SB) 496 in 2023. The University of California Cancer Consortium provided expert insights during the bill making process. Following the Legislature’s passage of the bill in October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into law.
“Everyone should have equitable access to these life-saving tests regardless of their insurance provider. That’s why SB 496 is a win for all Californians with cancer,” Lara said.
Not all cancer cells are alike. The American Cancer Society said that even people with the same type of cancer can have different gene changes or different levels of certain proteins that can help the cancer cells grow. Biomarker testing can be helpful because these changes might also affect how well the cancer responds to certain types of treatment, such as targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy.
Checking a person’s tumor cells for these changes helps ensure that patients receive the right treatment at the right time. Targeted therapies can be less toxic than standard chemotherapy while being more effective.
“Improving access to biomarker testing can not only achieve better outcomes, improve quality of life and reduce costs but it is also key to reducing health disparities,” Lara said.
Hereditary Cancer Program.
UC Davis Hereditary Cancer Program
Genetic testing to help determine if a mutation is the underlying cause of a patient's cancer and assess their risk of developing additional cancers. Genetic testing can be done through blood or saliva sampling and provides valuable information to family members of cancer patients regarding their potential risk of inheriting a predisposition to cancer.
"If two or more relatives on the same side of the family have been diagnosed with breast, ovarian, uterine, or colorectal cancer, it is wise to talk to a genetic counselor," said Jeanna Welborn, director of the Hereditary Cancer Program at the cancer center.
Welborn and her team of licensed and certified genetic counselors and physicians offer a range of cancer genetics services, including cancer risk assessment, pre-test counseling, genetic testing, post-test counseling, and personalized recommendations for cancer screening and risk reduction through healthy habits.
"At some point, testing for an inherited predisposition to cancer may become routine," Welborn said. However, she emphasizes the importance of patients being comfortable with knowing the information.
"Many people who inherit a gene variant will never get cancer, so it is important that people don't panic or live in fear," Welborn said. "What's key is knowing that you may have a higher risk of certain types of cancer, which could help catch cancer earlier or prevent it altogether."
To find out more about the Hereditary Cancer Program, you can contact them at 800-770-9261.
Genetic examples: Harmful BRCA1 and BRCA2
Approximately 5–10% of cancers are associated with an inherited gene mutation, but some types of cancers carry even higher risks. For example, women who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are more likely than women without the genetic variants to develop breast or ovarian cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute:
Breast cancer: About 13% of women in the general population will contract breast cancer sometime in their lifetime. By contrast, 55–72% of women who inherit the BRCA1 variant and 45–69% of women who inherit BRCA2 variant will develop breast cancer
Ovarian cancer: About 1% of women in the general population will develop ovarian cancer sometime during their lifetime. By contrast, 39–44% of women who inherit BRCA1 and 11–17% of women who inherit BRCA2 will develop ovarian cancer.
Other cancers, such as prostate, pancreatic and colorectal cancers, also are linked to BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.
