Liquid Biopsy Analysis as a Tool for TKI-Based Treatment in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Genetics

Background:

• Targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment for patients with specific gene alterations (EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, MET).
• TKIs have significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced NSCLC.
• Molecularly targeted therapy necessitates accurate identification of genetic mutations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the role of liquid biopsy in the selection and monitoring of TKI-based targeted therapy for NSCLC.
• To assess the utility of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), exosomes, and tumor-educated platelets (TEPs) as biomarkers.
• To determine if liquid biopsy can complement traditional tissue biopsy in guiding NSCLC treatment.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of liquid biopsy elements including CTCs, cfDNA, exosomes, and TEPs.
• Molecular analysis using digital PCR (dPCR), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and shallow whole-genome sequencing (sWGS).
• Comparison of liquid biopsy findings with tissue biopsy for mutation detection.

Main Results:

• Liquid biopsy enables the detection of targetable mutations required for TKI treatment in NSCLC.
• Analysis of cfDNA and other circulating elements can identify genetic alterations relevant to TKI therapy.
• Liquid biopsy serves as a complementary tool to invasive tissue biopsy for treatment selection and monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Liquid biopsy shows promise in guiding targeted therapy selection and monitoring for NSCLC patients.
• Further prospective studies with larger patient cohorts are needed to validate these findings for clinical practice.
• The integration of liquid biopsy into clinical workflows could enhance personalized treatment strategies for NSCLC.