EGFR Mutation Analysis by ARMS PCR for stratifying patients with NSCLC Test

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is a gene. This analysis is conducted on the tumour tissue of the patient affected with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. This test is conducted to find out whether the EGFR gene in the tumour tissue of lung cancer is having any mutations. Based on the result, treatment for the lung cancer will be given to the patient. In this test instead of tumour tissue blood plasma is used for analysis as getting tumour tissue by biopsy is painful for the patient.

The plasma samples will be collected from these patients for testing. Patient treated with EGFR TKI therapy and later developed resistance to the therapy will undergo this test.

The test is to identify the mutations that prevent the medicine to react on the EGFR gene to suppress its cancer effect. In this methodology there is no need of tumor tissue, therefore, the patient will not suffer biopsy pain.

Plasma samples collected from the patient will be tested through ARMS (amplification refractory mutation systems) PCR (polymerase chain reaction) procedure. The test will be done at the professional medical laboratories only. At the labs, the samples taken before and after giving medicines under targeted therapy is analyzed to identify the resistance mutation present in the EGFR gene. Based on this further treatment will be given to the patient.