Genotyping Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Non-small cell Lung cancer (NSCLC) represents approximately 75% of all lung tumors. Commonly mutated genes in this neoplasia are: EGFR, KRAS and recently was reported the fusion protein EML4-ALK. The mutations in the EGFR and the EML4-ALK fusion protein confer sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), while KRAS mutations confer resistance to these. The frequency of these mutations varies in different ethnic groups. Is for this reason, it is important the genotyping of the patients with NSCLC, in order to customize the treatment to each patient according to their genetic background, this generate an increase in overall survival. So in this chapter, we describe the molecular mechanisms present in patients with lung cancer, this impact to determine appropriate lung cancer patient treatment.