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IntroductionThe discovery of driver mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has led to the development of genome-based personalized medicine. Fifteen to 20% of adenocarcinomas harbor an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activating mutation associated with responses to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Individual laboratories' expertise and the availability of appropriate equipment are valuable assets in predictive molecular pathology, although the choice of methods should be determined by the nature of the samples to be tested and whether the detection of only well-characterized EGFR mutations or rather, of all detectable mutations, is required. Areas covered: The EGFR mutation testing landscape is manifold and includes both screening and targeted methods, each with their own pros and cons. Here we review one of these companion tests, the Roche cobas® EGFR mutation test v2, from a methodological point of view, also exploring its liquid-biopsy applications. Expert commentary: The Roche cobas® EGFR mutation test v2, based on real time RT-PCR, is a reliable option for testing EGFR mutations in clinical practice, either using tissue-derived DNA or plasma-derived cfDNA. This application will be valuable for laboratories with whose purpose is purely diagnostic and lacking high-throughput technologies.

Original publication

DOI

10.1080/14737159.2017.1288568

Type

Journal article

Journal

Expert review of molecular diagnostics

Publication Date

03/2017

Volume

17

Pages

209 - 215

Addresses

a Department of Public Health , University of Naples Federico II , Naples , Italy.

Keywords

Humans, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Lung Neoplasms, Reagent Kits, Diagnostic, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, DNA Mutational Analysis, Mutation, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, ErbB Receptors