Detection of genomic mutations in blood and urine free circulating tumour DNA in patients with inoperable and metastatic lung adenocarcinoma harbouring an EGFR mutation in tissue: a UK pilot study

The development of methodologies to analyse circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in the blood or urine cancer patients provides an invaluable resource that can be used for diagnosis and prognosis evaluate response treatments. Lung has seen last years a revolution treatment strategy with use several classes EGFR inhibitors. However, almost invariably, resistance such therapies appears. In this paper, we describe pilot, longitudinal study 20 confirmed mutations tissue biopsy lung cancer. objective was determine whether ctDNA from plasma and/or could monitor mutational status mutation-positive non-small cell (NSCLC) during Blood were collected monthly over periods ranging 6 16 months. CtDNA analysed each patient presence known predispose We have proven serial monitoring both is feasible are willing participate process. also shown may detect before radiological clinical disease progression.