Evidence-based best practices for EGFR T790M testing in lung cancer in Canada

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIS) are recommended as first-line systemic therapy for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) having mutations in the EGFR gene. Resistance to TKIS eventually occurs in all NSCLC patients treated with such drugs. In patients with resistance to TKIS caused by the EGFR T790M mutation, the third-generation TKI osimertinib is now the standard of care. For optimal patient management, accurate EGFR T790M testing is required. A multidisciplinary working group of pathologists, laboratory medicine specialists, medical oncologists, a respirologist, and a thoracic radiologist from across Canada was convened to discuss best practices for EGFR T790M mutation testing in Canada. The group made recommendations in the areas of the testing algorithm and the pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic aspects of clinical testing for both tissue testing and liquid biopsy circulating tumour DNA testing. The recommendations aim to improve EGFR T790M testing in Canada and to thereby improve patient care.