Tissue is Critical: Best Practices for NSCLC Biomarker Testing

For early-stage disease, reflexive testing is standard, with a primary focus on EGFR and ALK, as these have proven implications for adjuvant targeted therapy. The conversation then addresses the critical challenge of tissue adequacy. The experts emphasize that insufficient tissue, while a common problem in the past, is now rare at their institution due to a coordinated, multidisciplinary effort. They highlight the importance of educating interventional pulmonologists, radiologists, and surgeons on the need for ample tissue from the initial biopsy. The use of specialized interventional pulmonologists is noted as a key factor in procuring high-quality samples, moving beyond traditional bronchoscopy, which often yields a diagnosis but not enough material for comprehensive genomic profiling.