Cryobiopsy increases the EGFR detection rate in non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer ranks among the most common cancers worldwide with approximately 1.8 million patients in 2012 [1,2]. Non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents 75 –85% of all lung cancers. 2/3 of these patients are in non-curable stage III and IV at the time of diagnosis, and are usually treated systemically [3]. The current management of non-curable NSCLC has become more and more individualized and is based on immunohistochemical and molecular tumor charac terization [4]. In this context, EGFR mutation is currently the most relevant molecular-genetic alteration [5] since target therapies directed to activating EGFR mutation not only have a much better side effect profile [6], but also lead to an improved clinical response [7], an improved progression free survival, and an improved overall survival in certain subgroups (e.g.

Source: Lung Cancer - January 5, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Maik Haentschel, Michael Boeckeler, Ahmed Ehab, Robert Wagner, Werner Spengler, Volker Steger, Hans Boesmueller, Marius Horger, Richard A. Lewis, Falko Fend, Lothar Kanz, Irina Bonzheim, Juergen Hetzel Source Type: research