Is the egfr gene test expensive?

For people with cancer, especially lung cancer, doctors will recommend EGFR gene testing. Only after this test can we determine whether the patient can receive targeted drug treatment. However, many people are concerned about the question of "Is the EGFR gene test expensive?" when conducting this test. I would like to remind everyone that when we understand this issue, it is also best to understand why we need to do EGFR gene testing.

Why do we need to test for EGFR gene mutation?

Because targeted therapy is not suitable for all cancer patients, it is only suitable when there is a gene mutation in the body. So how can we determine whether a patient has a gene mutation? One method is to test for EGFR gene mutation. Studies have shown that EGFR is associated with the proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis and inhibition of apoptosis of tumor cells. In many solid tumors, EGFR is highly or abnormally expressed.

At present, EGFR gene mutation is the most well-researched, most well-documented, and most thoroughly understood tumor marker. The guidelines of the world's three major tumor mutation committees have all emphasized the importance of EGFR mutation testing. Therefore, when a patient is tested for EGFR gene mutation and is found to have a gene mutation, he or she must consult the attending physician in a timely manner to see if targeted drugs are suitable for use.

Is the egfr gene test expensive?

Many people may find that a quick search on the Internet will reveal that there are many companies that say they can perform this test, and the fees are different, ranging from a few hundred yuan to thousands of yuan. I would like to remind you here that tests that cost several hundred yuan are basically unreliable and their accuracy rate is not very high. There may be other charges, and the quote of several hundred yuan is just to attract patients to come in for examination with a low quote, and then charge other fees under various names. Therefore, it is recommended that patients go to a public hospital for testing. Generally speaking, the cost of EGFR gene mutation testing in a regular public hospital is basically several thousand, and it may be tens of thousands in a high-end hospital. Of course, the cost of EGFR gene mutation testing will be determined based on the number of genes tested for the patient. It will also be affected by factors such as the local city's consumption level, hospital level, and testing equipment.