Over the past decade, a revolution in the treatment of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been sparked by the ongoing discovery of targetable oncogenic driver mutations. Because of the growing number of targeted therapies, comprehensive biomarker testing is essential in this patient population to determine the best individualized treatment.
Dr Thomas Stinchcombe, of Duke Cancer Institute in Durham, North Carolina, discusses the latest standards for identifying the pathology of NSCLC patients as well as the accepted sequence of treatments informed by the presence or absence of mutations. He also reports on new immunotherapy research for this patient population.
Molecular testing of tumor tissue is the standard of care for genotyping, but gathering and processing the results takes time. Dr Stinchcombe points out that liquid biopsies complement tissue testing by using a patient's blood to identify circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the plasma, helping to determine pathologic diagnosis more quickly.
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Thomas E. Stinchcombe, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina
Thomas E. Stinchcombe, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Consulting or Advisory Role: Janssen Oncology; Genentech/Roche; Daiichi Sankyo/Astra Zeneca; Takeda; Eisai/H3 Biomedicine; G1 Therapeutics; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals; Gilead Sciences; AstraZeneca; Coherus BioSciences
Member of the data and safety monitoring board for: GlaxoSmithKline; Genentech/Roche
Received research grant from: AstraZeneca; Seagen; Mirati Therapeutics; Genentech/Roche
Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Janssen Oncology; Genentech/Roche; Daiichi Sankyo/Astra Zeneca; Takeda; Eisai/H3 Biomedicine; G1 Therapeutics; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals; Gilead Sciences; AstraZeneca; Coherus BioSciences; GlaxoSmithKline