Author Description

Lung cancer is a malignancy of epidemic proportions. In the United States, it is estimated that there will be more than 228,000 new cases of lunch cancer each year, with 40% of those presenting with Stage IV metastatic disease. Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) make up approximately 70% of all lung cancers diagnosed. Ongoing advancements in medicine are raising the bar in oncology management, including NSCLCs. Data show that patients respond differently to the same drug. By identifying a sub-group of patients most likely to benefit from a specific drug therapy, patients can be confident that their treatment will provide optimal responses. A companion diagnostic enables personalized healthcare. It is used to predict which patients are most likely to benefit from a particular therapy and/or how best to administer a therapy to an individual. This 6 panel pocket card provides at-a-glance information about companion diagnostic testing for non-small cell lung cancers. The card concisely summarizes: epidemiology; histology; etiology and risk factors; evaluation and staging; treatment overview; personalized treatment; companion testing; and implications. The content is excerpted from Dr. Gary Lyman's Oxford American Handbook of Oncology.