Objectives: Timely diagnosis of lung cancer (LC) is crucial to achieve optimal patient care and outcome. Moreover, the number of procedures required to obtain a definitive diagnosis can have a large influence on the life expectancy of a patient. Here, adherence with existing Dutch guidelines for timeliness and type and number of invasive and imaging procedures was assessed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Pathologic subtyping of tissue biopsies is the gold standard for the diagnosis of lung cancer (LC), which could be complicated in cases of e.g. inconclusive tissue biopsies or unreachable tumors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdentification of actionable mutations in advanced stage non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is recommended by guidelines as it enables treatment with targeted therapies. In current practice, mutations are identified by next-generation sequencing of tumor DNA (tDNA-NGS), which requires tissue biopsies of sufficient quality. Alternatively, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) could be used for mutation analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLiquid biopsies have become of interest as minimally invasive ways to monitor treatment response in lung cancer patients. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and protein biomarkers are evaluated for their added value in monitoring therapy response and early detection of disease progression. Plasma and serum samples of non-small cell or small cell lung cancer patients were analyzed for driver mutations in ctDNA (EGFR, KRAS or BRAF) using droplet digital PCR and protein biomarkers (CA125, CEA, CA15.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe detection of EGFR-sensitizing and EGFR-resistance mutations in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients is important for the selection and monitoring of EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitor therapy. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) multiplex assays allow for sensitive and simultaneous detection of multiple mutations in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) with a minimum of extract needed and at lower cost. Patients were screened for the EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitor-sensitizing mutations Ex19Del, L858R, L861Q, G719S, and S768I using a novel ddPCR pentaplex assay.
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