A test that measures two lung cancer drugs in spinal fluid
Original title: Simultaneous determination of osimertinib and almonertinib concentrations in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid using UPLC-MS/MS method and its clinical applications.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
Drug levels were watched in a small group of people, not tested as a new treatment.
The short version
Doctors found that drug levels in the fluid around the brain may matter more than levels in the blood.
What was studied. Researchers built a lab test that measures two drugs, osimertinib and almonertinib, in blood and in the fluid around the brain and spine. They used it on samples from twenty people with lung cancer that had spread to the brain. 7 were taking osimertinib and 13 were taking almonertinib.
What they found. The test measured both drugs well in blood and in spinal fluid. Levels varied a lot from one person to the next. Blood levels did not line up with how the lung tumors responded, but people with more drug in their spinal fluid had better brain MRI results.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: Checking drug levels in the fluid around the brain may show whether a drug is actually reaching the brain. Over time, that could help doctors pick a dose that fits one person better.
What it doesn't mean: This is not a new treatment, and it is not a cure. It was a small study of twenty people, and the test was being checked rather than proven. Taking spinal fluid requires a needle in the back, so this is not something doctors do routinely. Much more work is needed before this changes everyday care.
Source: PubMed, October 21, 2026 · Read the original
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