NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As Tennessee lawmakers begin the 2025 legislative session Tuesday, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) urges them to prioritize legislation which would allow more Tennesseans to access biomarker testing, an increasingly important part of cancer care.
In the case of a cancer diagnosis, biomarker testing allows doctors to precisely target a specific cancer, saving some patients from more generalized treatments like chemo and radiation that may not work. It can help save critical time in a cancer fight. Unfortunately, not all Tennesseans are benefiting from the latest advances in biomarker testing and targeted treatments.
Maddie Michael, Tennessee government relations director for ACS CAN released the following statement:
“Biomarker testing helps doctors determine the most effective type of treatment for individual patients. We are proud to fight to make sure all Tennesseans can achieve the best chance to survive cancer. For example, patients with certain lung cancer types who received biomarker testing and targeted therapy had a 31% reduction in risk of death. Biomarker testing also often helps patients avoid costly, time-consuming or ineffective treatments.
“Nearly 60% of all cancer drugs approved in the last five years require or recommend biomarker testing. ACS CAN in Tennessee looks forward to working in coalition with other patient and provider groups across the state to urge its passage. To date, 20 states have passed legislation to ensure coverage of biomarker testing, including Georgia, Texas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.”