Importance of the cytological samples for the epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutation test for non-small cell lung cancer.

ABSTRACT: Mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene confer it with cancer driver gene functions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Epidermal growth factor receptor -tyrosine kinase inhibitors are effective agents against NSCLC with a mutated EGFR gene. Accordingly, many guidelines recommend the use of an EGFR mutation test in NSCLC. However, not all patients are tested in most countries where tissue samples are mainly used for the test. As of 2011, most of the patients with advanced NSCLC are tested in Japan, and the use of cytological samples has significantly contributed to this success. A portion of samples used to determine a definite diagnosis of NSCLC, either tissue samples or cytological samples, is ensured to contain cancer cells, and is then investigated by an EGFR m

SUBMITTER: Hagiwara K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7657187 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature