Published Jul 16, 2025

Passionate About Progress: Biopharma Leader Alison Dziarmaga On The Enormous Importance of Biomarker Testing For Breast Cancer Patients

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To Access The Best Care, Ask About Biomarkers

There has been incredible progress in the breast cancer field in recent years, particularly when it comes to treating advanced disease.
As a patient, to ensure you are getting the best care, it’s critically important to ask questions about what is known as a biomarker.
“There are lots of different treatment options that can be offered depending on what your biomarker status is,” Alison Dziarmaga, VP and U.S. Franchise Head for Breast Cancer at AstraZeneca, tells SurvivorNet.
These days, genetic sequencing plays an important role in cancer care. Dziarmaga encouraged patients to ask about genetic testing, as features like a PIK3CA mutation or an SR1 mutation may mean a newer, potentially better therapy is available.

There has been incredible progress in the breast cancer field in recent years, particularly when it comes to treating advanced disease. As a patient, you may feel overwhelmed as you learn about the specific type of cancer you have and the characteristics of your disease — but, to ensure you are getting the best care, it’s critically important to ask questions about what is known as a biomarker.

At this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the biggest cancer conference of the year, SurvivorNet sat down with Alison Dziarmaga, VP and U.S. Franchise Head for Breast Cancer at AstraZeneca, to discuss the advances in care, what to know about biomarkers, and how patients can play an active role in their treatment decisions.

“If there’s one thing patients take away, it’s to ask questions about getting your biomarker status. Just know that there are lots of different treatment options that can be offered depending on what your biomarker status is,” Dziarmaga said.

There are many different types of breast cancer, like HER2-positive, triple negative, and hormone receptor (HR) positive. What type a patient has helps doctors determine the best approach to treatment. But learning the biomarker status goes beyond that. A genetic mutation can indicate that a different or new approach to treatment may give a patient better odds.

These days, genetic sequencing plays an important role in cancer care. Dziarmaga encouraged patients to ask about genetic testing, as features like a PIK3CA mutation or an SR1 mutation may mean a new therapy is available.

For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a drug called Truqap (generic name: capivasertib) for patients with HR+, HER2- breast cancer who have the following biomarker alterations: PIK3CA, AKT1 or PTEN. The drug can double progression free survival for patients.

“There’s so much happening in this space and we’re hoping to get this to as many people as we can … beyond zip codes,” Dziarmaga said.

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