EGFR analysis: Current evidence and future directions

摘要: Until a few years ago, only lung cancer histological specimens were considered suitable for testing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Then, several retrospective studies designed to test EGFR mutation on sizeable number of parallel cytological and samples obtained from the same patients and, even more recently, institutions reported their prospective clinical experiences routine specimens. Basing these College American Pathologists, International Association Study Lung Cancer, Molecular Pathology have recently testing. Therefore, it seems timely draw together threads this large body information in order that cytopathologists can be knowledgeable partners multidisciplinary process targeted therapy help refine current guidelines. This review addresses (1) common proposed techniques including use direct cytologic smears cell blocks liquid based cytology; (2) issues related practice, which Europe is external centralized usually done containing very cells; (3) future directions implementation cytology next generation sequencing approaches.