title: Molecular profiling in non-small cell lung cancer: a step toward personalized medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung carcinoma is the result of sequential accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes. Lung adenocarcinoma is a heterogeneous disease with diverse somatic mutations, and several of them include the so-called driver mutations, which may serve as "druggable" therapeutic targets. Thus, development of personalized approaches for the treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) mandates that pathologists make a precise histologic classification inclusive of routine molecular analysis of such tumors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To address the molecular mechanisms underlying NSCLC and how this knowledge reflects the multidisciplinary approach in the diagnosis and management of these patients. We will also summarize the current available and investigational personalized therapies for patients with resectable early-stage, unresectable locally advanced, and metastatic NSCLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peer-reviewed published literature and personal experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are multiple mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, which operate in parallel and involve pathways of activation and inhibition of various cellular events. Further research is essential to characterize the histologic and mutational profiles of lung carcinomas, which will ultimately translate into improved and more personalized therapeutic management of patients with lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. kraparia@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Kirtee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raparia
authors.forename: Celina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Malcolm M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: DeCamp
authors.forename: Jyoti D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Minesh P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D057285:Precision Medicine; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005819:Genetic Markers; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins