Clinicopathological Features, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Mutations and Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)...

Background Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths and the most common type of cancer globally. It is generally classified into two main histologic subtypes: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is the most prevalent type and is enriched with genetic and molecular diversity. This study evaluated the clinical, molecular, and demographic characteristics of patients with NSCLC, with a focus on variables involving disease stage, survival rates, and mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) genes. Methods This retrospective study included 51 adult patients aged 30 years and older. Only patients who received treatment and subsequent follow-up at our institution were included in this study. Results There were 51 patients, aged 30-84 years (mean = 59.6 ± 10.9). Out of 51 patients, 32 (64.7%) were men; 19 (37.2.5%) were either current or former smokers; 34 patients (66.7%) had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of either 0 or 1; 47 (92.2) had an adenocarcinoma; 15 (29.4%) had a bilateral lung disease; 43 (84.3%) had stage IV disease; 10 (19.6%) had a positive EGFR status; eight (15.7) had a positive ALK status; and 38 patients (73.1%) had died by the cut-off date for this study. The median survival time for the EGFR-negative patients was 15 months, as opposed to 16 months for those who were EGFR-positive. Likewise, the median survival time for both the ALK-negative and positive patients was 17 months each. Conclusion The study contributes to our understanding of NSCLC and highlights the trends of our region while acknowledging the limitations associated with molecular studies and smaller sample sizes. These findings are not aligned with global trends in NSCLC due to the above-mentioned reasons. Future prospective trials are needed to aim for larger cohorts and consider additional variables to address the complexities of NSCLC.