Sreeni Chittoor, MD, FACP, a medical oncologist and hematologist at Texas Oncology, discusses targetable mutations and respective treatment options for patients with metastatic non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

When performing molecular tests on patients with metastatic NSCLC, the focus is typically on 

 mutations, as these are druggable targets, explains Chittoor.

Some mutations have more than 1 treatment available. For example, if a patient has an exon 19 deletion, patients can receive or gefitinib (Iressa), erlotinib (Tarceva), or osimertinib (Tagrisso) in the first-line setting. Osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR TKI, was compared head-to-head with first-generation gefitinib and second-generation erlotinib. Results showed a significant improvement in progression-free survival and duration of response. Osimertinib also crosses the blood-brain barrier. With 3 EGFR TKIs approved for use in NSCLC, data must be considered carefully when choosing a treatment for a patient with an 

-activating mutation, concludes Chittoor.

Videos

Sreeni Chittoor, MD, FACP, discusses targetable mutations and respective treatment options for patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer.

Dr. Chittoor on Targetable Mutations and Respective Treatments in NSCLC

Sreeni Chittoor, MD, FACP, a medical oncologist and hematologist at Texas Oncology, discusses the FDA and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommendations for use of liquid biopsies in patients with non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The FDA has approved liquid biopsies for identifying 

 mutations, such as exon 19 deletion and for use on patients who progress on first-line EGFR TKIs, explains Chittoor. Liquid biopsies are often used to identify the most common 

 mutation, T790M, which is found in about 50% to 60% of patients with NSCLC, says Chittoor.

However, the NCCN has guidelines recommending broader molecular testing, including use of the LungSEQ and 50SEQ panels. With LungSEQ, there are different molecular markers being looked at, which in addition to 

Sreeni Chittoor, MD, FACP, discusses the FDA and National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommendations for use of liquid biopsies in patients with non–small cell lung cancer.

Sreeni Chittoor, MD, FACP

Articles

Dr. Chittoor on Targetable Mutations and Respective Treatments in NSCLC

Dr. Chittoor on Guidelines for Liquid Biopsies in NSCLC