Evidence-Based Supplement & Herb Guides

KRAS Test for Pancreatic Cancer: Tumor Mutation, Mutation Status, and Diagnostic Context

KRAS is the dominant driver gene in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, with activating mutations present in roughly nine out of ten tumors. Testing can support...

Liver Cancer Biomarker Panel: AFP, DCP, PIVKA-II, AFP-L3, and HCC Risk

AFP, AFP-L3%, and DCP/PIVKA-II are blood biomarkers associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, but they do not function as a stand-alone “liver cancer panel” that can...

MLH1 Promoter Methylation Test: Colon Cancer, Lynch Syndrome Workup, and Sporadic MSI

MLH1 promoter methylation testing helps explain why a colorectal cancer has lost MLH1/PMS2 mismatch-repair proteins or shows microsatellite instability. In many older adults, MLH1...

MMR IHC Test for Colon Cancer: MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, and Lynch Screening

Mismatch-repair immunohistochemistry (MMR IHC) is a tumor test that stains colorectal cancer cells for four DNA-repair proteins: MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6. Intact nuclear...

MSI Test for Colon Cancer: Microsatellite Instability, Lynch Syndrome, and Mismatch Repair

Learn what MSI-H, dMMR, MSS, and pMMR mean in colon cancer, how MSI testing guides immunotherapy, and when an abnormal result can lead to Lynch syndrome testing.

An MSI test for colon cancer checks whether a tumor has trouble repairing small DNA copying errors. When this repair system fails, short repeated...

MSI Test for Gastric Cancer: Microsatellite Instability, Mismatch Repair, and Molecular Subtype

Understand MSI testing in gastric cancer, including MSI-H, dMMR, MSS, molecular subtype, immunotherapy relevance, and when a result may prompt Lynch syndrome evaluation.

An MSI test for gastric cancer checks whether the tumor has a defective DNA mismatch repair system. When mismatch repair fails, repeated DNA sequences...

NRAS Test for Colon Cancer: Mutation Status, Anti-EGFR Resistance Marker, and Meaning

Learn what an NRAS mutation means in colon cancer, why NRAS predicts resistance to cetuximab and panitumumab, and how wild-type results fit into extended RAS testing.

An NRAS test for colon cancer looks for activating mutations in the NRAS gene, usually as part of extended RAS testing that also includes...

NTRK Fusion Test for Colon Cancer: Gene Fusion, Tumor-Agnostic Marker, and Result Meaning

Learn how NTRK fusion testing works in colon cancer, what a positive fusion means, why NTRK is a tumor-agnostic marker, and how TRK inhibitors may be used in advanced disease.

An NTRK fusion test for colon cancer looks for an abnormal joining of an NTRK gene with another gene, creating a continuously active TRK...

Oncotype DX Colon Recurrence Score Test: Colon Cancer Recurrence Risk and Genomic Score

Learn how the Oncotype DX Colon Recurrence Score works, what a 0–100 genomic score means, and how it can refine recurrence-risk discussions after colon cancer surgery.

The Oncotype DX Colon Recurrence Score test is a 12-gene tumor assay designed to estimate the risk that certain resected colon cancers will recur...

PALB2 Test for Pancreatic Cancer: DNA Repair Marker, Hereditary Risk, and Variant Meaning

Learn what a PALB2 result means in pancreatic cancer, how germline and tumor variants differ, why platinum sensitivity matters, and when hereditary family testing is needed.

A PALB2 test in pancreatic cancer looks for harmful changes in a gene that helps repair double-strand DNA breaks through homologous recombination. A pathogenic...

Pancreatic Cancer Biomarker Panel: CA 19-9, CEA, KRAS, BRCA, PALB2, and Tumor Markers

Understand pancreatic cancer biomarkers including CA 19-9, CEA, KRAS, BRCA, PALB2, MSI, and gene fusions, with practical guidance on monitoring, hereditary risk, and targeted therapy.

A pancreatic cancer biomarker panel is not one universal test. It is a combination of blood markers, tumor molecular tests, and inherited genetic tests...

PD-L1 Test for Gastric Cancer: CPS Score, Expression Level, and Immunotherapy Marker Meaning

Learn how PD-L1 CPS is calculated in gastric cancer, what CPS ≥1 and CPS ≥5 mean, and how expression level guides immunotherapy alongside HER2 and MSI testing.

A PD-L1 test for gastric cancer measures programmed death-ligand 1 expression in tumor tissue, usually with immunohistochemistry, to help estimate whether an immune checkpoint...

PIVKA-II Test for Liver Cancer: High Levels, HCC Risk, and Monitoring

Learn what a high PIVKA-II or DCP result means, which noncancer conditions can raise it, and how the marker is used with AFP and imaging for HCC risk and monitoring.

PIVKA-II is a blood biomarker that can rise in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer. It is also called des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin...

Signatera Test for Colon Cancer: ctDNA Recurrence Monitoring and MRD Detection

Learn how Signatera uses tumor-informed ctDNA to detect molecular residual disease after colon cancer treatment, what positive and negative results mean, and how MRD monitoring may guide care.

Signatera is a tumor-informed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) test used to look for molecular residual disease after treatment for colon cancer and to monitor...

SMAD4 Test for Pancreatic Cancer: Tumor Suppressor Marker, Loss, and Prognosis

Learn what SMAD4 loss means in pancreatic cancer, how IHC and sequencing detect it, what studies show about prognosis, and why SMAD4 is not yet a stand-alone treatment target.

A SMAD4 test in pancreatic cancer looks for loss or alteration of a tumor suppressor that is central to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling....

AKT1 Mutation Test: Breast Cancer, Solid Tumors, AKT Pathway, and Mutation Meaning

Learn what an AKT1 mutation test detects, what AKT1 E17K means, how results guide advanced breast cancer treatment, and how tumor and blood testing differ.

An AKT1 mutation test looks for DNA changes in the AKT1 gene, a key part of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR growth-signaling pathway. In cancer, the best-known...

ALK Fusion Test: Gene Fusion, Lung Cancer Marker, Positive Result, and Molecular Meaning

Learn what an ALK fusion test detects, how NGS, FISH, and IHC differ, what an ALK-positive lung cancer result means, and how it guides targeted therapy.

An ALK fusion test looks for a cancer-driving rearrangement involving the ALK gene, most often in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The classic example...

APC Mutation Test: Colon Cancer, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Variant Meaning, and Hereditary Risk

Learn how APC mutation testing relates to familial adenomatous polyposis, colon cancer risk, germline versus tumor variants, mosaicism, and family testing.

An APC mutation test looks for harmful changes in the APC gene, a tumor-suppressor gene that helps control cell growth through the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway....

ASXL1 Mutation Test: Myeloid Cancer, Prognosis, Mutation Status, and Risk Meaning

Learn what an ASXL1 mutation test means in AML, MDS, CMML, MPNs, and clonal hematopoiesis, including prognosis, VAF, and risk interpretation.

An ASXL1 mutation test looks for acquired DNA changes in the ASXL1 gene, an epigenetic regulator that is frequently altered in myeloid blood disorders....

ATM Mutation Test: DNA Repair Gene, Breast Cancer Risk, Prostate Cancer Risk, and Variant Meaning

Learn what an ATM mutation test means for DNA repair, hereditary breast and prostate cancer risk, tumor testing, variant classification, screening, and family follow-up.

An ATM mutation test looks for harmful changes in the ATM gene, which helps cells detect and respond to DNA double-strand breaks. A pathogenic...