Targeted treatment of mutated EGFR-expressing non-small-cell lung cancer: focus on erlotinib with companion diagnostics

Figures & data

Table 1 Primary techniques for EGFR mutation testing

Direct DNA sequencing
Historical standard for EGFR mutation testing	Low sensitivity, complex, time-consuming, not standardized in terms of laboratory practice
PCR assays
PNA-PCR clamp assay Cobas^® EGFR Test; first FDA-approved companion diagnostic Therascreen^® EGFR assay; FDA-approved companion diagnostic	Simple, validated methods for detecting the most common, clinically significant EGFR mutations. Superior sensitivity and specificity compared with conventional Sanger sequencing. Not time consuming, require small amount of DNA

Abbreviations: PCR, polymerase chain reaction; PNA, peptide nucleic acid; US FDA, United States Food and Drug Administration.