Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer

The identification of actionable genomic alterations in lung cancer represents the established standard of care, serving as the foundation for selecting the most efficacious therapies. As the scope of molecular and biomarker testing in lung cancer continues to evolve, pathologists play a critical role in determining which specimens are appropriate for testing, identifying the relevant molecular targets, and selecting the optimal methodologies. This article will summarize the biomarker landscape in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), current recommendations for their implementation, and how to maximize the diagnostic and predictive value of the limited tissue samples obtained from patients with NSCLC.