EGFR mutations occur in approximately 10% to 15% of advanced NSCLC tumors, which represents 13,000 to 20,000 patients.1-3
ALK rearrangements occur in approximately 2% to 7% of advanced NSCLC tumors, which represents 2000 to 9000 patients.4
Together, these 2 sets of driver mutations comprise 12% to 22% of advanced NSCLC tumors, which represents 15,000 to 29,000 patients.1-4
The largest histologic subgroup within NSCLC is adenocarcinoma, comprising close to 40% of advanced NSCLC tumors. EGFR mutations occur in approximately 20% to 30% of adenocarcinomas, which, in advanced NSCLC, represents 10,000 to 15,000 patients.5-8
Testing for biomarkers, such as EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements may provide physicians with more information on which to base treatment decisions.9,10
2. Herbst RS, Heymach JV, Lippman SM. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(13):1367-1380.
3. Rosell R, Moran T, Queralt C, et al. N Engl J Med. 2009;361(10):958-967.
4. Kwak EL, Bang YJ, Camidge DR, et al. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(18):1693-1703.
5. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment (PDQ®). Cellular classification of NSCLC. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/non-small-cell-lung/healthprofessional/page2. Accessed January 18, 2012.
6. Kris MG, Johnson BE, Kwiatkowski DJ, et al. Abstract CRA7506. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29(June 20 suppl). http://meeting.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/29/18_suppl/CRA7506?sid=84701cef-e846-4865-9c01-bfdd7afe5871. Accessed December 29, 2011.
7. Billah S, Stewart J, Staerkel G, Chen S, Gong Y, Guo M. Cancer Cytopathol. 2011;119(2):111-117.
8. Pao W, Kris MG, Iafrate AJ, et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2009;15(17):5317-5322.
9. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: non-small cell lung cancer, version 2/2012. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/ pdf/nscl.pdf. Accessed December 29, 2011.
10. College of American Pathologists (CAP)/International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)/Association of Molecular Pathology (AMP) expert panel. Lung cancer biomarkers guideline draft recommendations. http://capstaging.cap.org/apps/docs/membership/ transformation/new/lung_public_comment_supporting_materials.pdf. Accessed December 29, 2011
