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Precision Medicine in Lung Cancer

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Precision Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer

Part of the book series: Molecular Pathology Library ((MPLB))

Abstract

The last 25 years have seen a remarkable change in the way we manage patients with lung cancer, especially those with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A rather nihilistic approach, with poor therapy options, has been transformed by the availability of some very effective therapies, at least for some of our patients. Most of these therapies are effective against a particular molecular biological facet of the individual tumour. Patients who are likely to respond to these molecularly targeted treatments are selected on the basis of particular molecular characteristics identified at the time of pathological diagnosis. The identification of biomarkers for the selection of treatments has transformed the pathological diagnosis of NSCLC.

These developments have, of course, implications for patients, oncologists and pathologists. In pathology, a new range of concepts and skills has been embraced, and for ‘traditional’ histo- and cytopathologists, there have been new opportunities to embrace molecular pathology as part of their diagnostic role. This has required a better understanding of the diagnostic techniques used in the pathology laboratory, as well as how our routine sample processing enhances or hinders them. Lung cancer pathologists have to be quite skilled in tissue management as our oncologists, and patients, require much more information from dwindling tissue resources. The value of performing tests to strict quality standards is ever more apparent. Precision medicine for patients with lung cancer is now a reality and has placed pathology, and pathologists, in the centre of the patient management process. A knowledge of the molecular pathology of lung cancer has become ever more important as pathologists take on new roles in diagnosis of lung cancer.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Aberdeen University Medical School, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK

    Keith M. Kerr

  2. Department of Pathology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK

    Gavin M. Laing

Authors
  1. Keith M. Kerr
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  2. Gavin M. Laing
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Keith M. Kerr .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology & Genomic Medici, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA

    Philip T. Cagle

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA

    Timothy Craig Allen

  3. Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York, USA

    Mary Beth Beasley

  4. Department of Pathology, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Lucian R. Chirieac

  5. Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Sanja Dacic

  6. Department of Pathology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA

    Alain C. Borczuk

  7. Department of Pathology, Aberdeen University Medical School, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

    Keith M. Kerr

  8. Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Lynette M. Sholl

  9. Medical Innovation, Roche Tissue Diagnostics, Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Bryce Portier

  10. Cancer Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA

    Eric H. Bernicker

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© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

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Kerr, K.M., Laing, G.M. (2018). Precision Medicine in Lung Cancer. In: Cagle, P., et al. Precision Molecular Pathology of Lung Cancer. Molecular Pathology Library. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62941-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62941-4_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-62940-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-62941-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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