Cancer du poumon : quel bilan de biologie moléculaire ?: Lung cancer: what is the molecular biology assessment?

Abstract

The identification of targetable molecular alterations is now required before start any treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Molecular diagnosis is mainly realized on tissue samples but circulating tumor DNA has also become a valuable tool in the daily practice. In recent years, the diversification of therapeutic targets has been a real challenge in terms of detection and requires the use of various molecular biology techniques adapted to the search for targets on DNA (point mutations, small deletions/ insertions, gene amplification) but also on RNA (fusion transcript). In addition to new generation sequencing, many targeted techniques are also proposed by laboratories. The choice of technologies must be made according to the criteria of exhaustiveness of the results, analytical sensitivity, delay of results and cost. For this, a close discussion with clinicians and pathologists is essential.© 2021 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.