Navigating the Landscape of Molecular Testing and Targeted Treatment of Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Molecular markers and the agents developed to target them have changed the landscape of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. First-generation targeted agents have been proven to be more effective than chemotherapy in patients with certain driver mutations (i.e., EGFR, ALK) and the newest targeted agents are being developed to address the issue of resistance. Speakers at JADPRO Live at APSHO emphasized that the use of these targeted treatments begins with tumor tissue, which requires a multidisciplinary approach among oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, pulmonologists, and pathologists. “Sufficient tissue is needed for many reasons,” said Sukhmani K. Padda, MD, of Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California. “Many tests are performed on this tissue, including confirmation of histologic diagnosis, immunochemistry, and molecular markers.” “Tissue is the issue, but it’s also at a premium,” said R. Donald Harvey, PharmD, BCOP, FCCP, FHOPA, of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, “meaning you may not be able to go back and get more in some cases.”