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Case Reports
. 2022 Nov 9;12(11):1874.
doi: 10.3390/jpm12111874.

Liquid Biopsy in the Oncological Management of a Histologically Undiagnosed Lung Carcinoma: A Case Report

Giovanni M Fadda  1 , Renato Lobrano  2 , Milena Casula  3 , Marina Pisano  3 , Antonio Pazzola  1 , Antonio Cossu  2   4 , Giuseppe Palmieri  3   5 , Panagiotis Paliogiannis  2   4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Liquid Biopsy in the Oncological Management of a Histologically Undiagnosed Lung Carcinoma: A Case Report

Giovanni M Fadda et al. J Pers Med. .

Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the most common and lethal cancers worldwide. Numerous medications targeting specific molecular alterations in non-small cell lung cancer have been introduced in the last decade and have revolutionized the clinical management of the disease. Their use has brought to a parallel evolution of molecular testing techniques to identify alterations in druggable molecular targets within the genetic material of the tumors. To perform molecular testing, biopsy or surgery tissue specimens are needed, which in addition allow the histological characterization of the tumors. Unfortunately, in real-life practice not all the patients are suitable for biopsy or surgery procedures. The use of liquid biopsy for blood extracted tumoral DNA analysis is a promising approach in unbiopsied cases, but it is also weighted by several methodological and technical limitations. We report here a case of histologically undiagnosed lung cancer managed with a liquid biopsy and subsequently with anti-EGFR treatment. Our report highlights that the use of liquid biopsy molecular testing in specific clinical situations can offer treatment opportunities for fragile patients affected by lung cancer.

Keywords: EGFR; adenocarcinoma; liquid biopsy; lung cancer; targeted therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT scans before and after targeted therapy with Osimertinib. Consistent regression of the main mass (red arrows, A,B) and the mediastinal lymph nodes (yellow arrows, C,D) was observed after eight weeks of treatment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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