The impact of genomic changes on treatment of lung cancer.

in American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine by Stephanie Cardarella, Bruce E Johnson

TLDR

  • The study is about finding ways to treat lung cancer by targeting specific changes in the DNA of the cancer cells. The study looked at different types of changes in the DNA of lung cancer cells and found that some of these changes can be targeted with drugs that are already approved for other conditions. The study also talked about how doctors need to be careful when taking tissue samples for these tests to make sure they have enough tissue to do the tests properly.

Abstract

The remarkable success of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements, respectively, introduced the era of targeted therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), shifting treatment from platinum-based combination chemotherapy to molecularly tailored therapy. Recent genomic studies in lung adenocarcinoma identified other potential therapeutic targets, including ROS1 rearrangements, RET fusions, MET amplification, and activating mutations in BRAF, HER2, and KRAS in frequencies exceeding 1%. Lung cancers that harbor these genomic changes can potentially be targeted with agents approved for other indications or under clinical development. The need to generate increasing amounts of genomic information should prompt health-care providers to be mindful of the amounts of tissue needed for these assays when planning diagnostic procedures. In this review, we summarize oncogenic drivers in NSCLC that can be currently detected, highlight their potential therapeutic implications, and discuss practical considerations for successful application of tumor genotyping in clinical decision making.

Overview

  • The study focuses on the potential therapeutic implications of oncogenic drivers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  • The methodology used for the experiment includes a review of genomic studies in lung adenocarcinoma to identify potential therapeutic targets. The study also highlights the practical considerations for successful application of tumor genotyping in clinical decision making. The primary objective of the study is to summarize the current state of oncogenic drivers in NSCLC and their potential therapeutic implications.

Comparative Analysis & Findings

  • The study compares the outcomes observed under different experimental conditions or interventions, specifically the identification of potential therapeutic targets in NSCLC. The study identifies several oncogenic drivers in NSCLC that can be currently detected, including ROS1 rearrangements, RET fusions, MET amplification, and activating mutations in BRAF, HER2, and KRAS. The study also highlights the potential therapeutic implications of these oncogenic drivers, such as the ability to target them with agents approved for other indications or under clinical development. The study finds that the need to generate increasing amounts of genomic information should prompt health-care providers to be mindful of the amounts of tissue needed for these assays when planning diagnostic procedures.

Implications and Future Directions

  • The study's findings have significant implications for the field of research and clinical practice, as they highlight the potential for targeted therapy in NSCLC. The study identifies several oncogenic drivers that can be currently detected and highlights their potential therapeutic implications. The study also suggests that the need to generate increasing amounts of genomic information should prompt health-care providers to be mindful of the amounts of tissue needed for these assays when planning diagnostic procedures. The study suggests that future research should focus on developing targeted therapies for these oncogenic drivers and improving the accuracy and efficiency of tumor genotyping assays.
Read Full Article