Asia-Pacific journal of clinical oncology
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Asia Pac J Clin Oncol · Apr 2021
Suitability of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration samples for programmed death ligand-1 testing in non-small cell lung cancer, the Bristol experience.
Treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is now personalised using molecular mutation testing. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) biopsy suitability for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation testing is established. Less is currently known about EBUS-TBNA suitability for PD-L1 (programmed death ligand-1) testing. ⋯ PD-L1 testing failures occurred in three of five (60.0%) of 22G needle biopsies, one of five (20.0%) of 21G needle biopsies and two of 39 (5.1%) of 19G needle biopsies, P = .016. EBUS-TBNA biopsies are mostly suitable for PD-L1 testing. Larger needle size may improve PD-L1 (but not EGFR and ALK) testing success but requires further study in a controlled trial.