Cancer du poumon : quel bilan de biologie moléculaire ?

The identification of targetable molecular alterations is now required before starting any treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Molecular diagnosis is mainly realized on tissue samples but circulating tumor DNA analysis has also become a valuable tool in the daily practice. In recent years, the diversification of therapeutic targets has been a real challenge in terms of detection and requires the use of various molecular biology techniques adapted to assess targets on DNA (point mutations, small deletions/insertions, gene amplification) but also on RNA (fusion transcript). The choice of the technology is directed by the clinical context, the exhaustiveness of the results, the analytical sensitivity, the delay of results and cost. For this, a close discussion with clinicians and pathologists is essential.