What is a tumor mutation burden?
The tumor mutation burden (TMB) is the number of changes found in the DNA of cancer cells. TMBs are biomarkers that can help a provider see how well a patient responds to treatment. TMB numbers are a useful biomarker for immunotherapy treatments for advanced cancer patients.
What happens during a TMB?
During the TMB test, a biopsy is taken through a thin, hollow needle to obtain a tissue same from the tumor. Then, the tissue sample is measured to determine the number of mutations in the cell. If a cancer has a TMB, it is more likely to respond to immunotherapy medications. Cancers with low TMB levels may be less successful with immunotherapy, in which case your provider may recommend alternate forms of treatment.