Current Status and Problems of T790M Detection, a Molecular Biomarker of Acquired Resistance to EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, with Liquid Biopsy and Re-biopsy

Abstract

Background/aim: The purpose of this study was to consider appropriate application of liquid and re-biopsy through analysis of current status in practice.

Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 22 patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer who exhibited 1st/2nd generation EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors resistance. The cobas® method was used to detect T790M with re-biopsy and the mutation-biased PCR and quenched probe method was used with liquid biopsy.

Results: T790M detection rate was 52% with re-biopsy and 58% with liquid biopsy. The concordance between tissue and plasma was 58%. One patient who was T790M-positive with liquid biopsy showed heterogeneity among metastatic lesions in terms of osimertinib efficacy, as revealed by T790M detection with re-biopsy.

Conclusion: Liquid biopsy reflects the whole body, whereas re-biopsy is useful for spatial diagnosis. Considering these characteristics, a combination of liquid and re-biopsy contribute to enhanced treatment.

Keywords: T790M; liquid biopsy; non-small cell lung cancer; re-biopsy.