Dr. Seetharamu on Utilizing a Patient-Centered Treatment Approach in Lung Cancer

Nagashree Seetharamu, MD, MBBS, associate professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, assistant investigator, Institute of Health System Science, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, associate program director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, attending physician, medical oncologist, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Northwell Health, discusses the importance of utilizing a patient-centered treatment approach in lung cancer.

During the 15th Annual New York Lung Cancers Symposium^®, Seetharamu presented a challenging case of a patient with EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer who received multiple oral TKIs. In the case, the patient received a second-generation TKI after progression on a third-generation agent, Seetharamu explains. Although this is not a conventional therapeutic approach, some patients do respond to a second-generation TKI after a third-generation TKI.

Notably, in this situation, the results of blood-based next-generation sequencing guided Seetharamu to utilize the second-generation agent. As such, it is critical to utilize liquid biopsies, as well as molecular and multidisciplinary tumors boards, to ensure patients receive optimal care, Seetharamu explains.

Additionally, part of utilizing a patient-centered treatment approach is ensuring that patients are considered for clinical trials, Seetharamu concludes.