Dr. Namakydoust on the Use of Next-Generation Sequencing in Lung Cancer

Azadeh Namakydoust, MD, FACP, thoracic oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in lung cancer.

The uptake of NGS and other broad molecular sequencing panels has led to the emergence of several targeted treatments for patients with molecular alterations. At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, it is standard of care to order the MSK-IMPACT panel for all patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC, and in most small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cases, irrespective of stage, says Namakydoust.

The information from these panels can help individualize therapy, she adds. Currently, in the lung cancer space, targetable alterations are only found in NSCLC. However, emerging research from Charles Rudin, MD, PhD, and W. Victoria Lai, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, suggest that there are mutations in SCLC that, with further research, could also become targetable, concludes Namakydoust.