Prognostic and predictive biomarkers in non-small cell lung carcinoma

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with the highest mortality rates among both men and women. Most lung cancers are diagnosed at late stages, necessitating systemic therapy. Modern clinical management of lung cancer relies heavily upon application of biomarkers, which guide the selection of systemic treatment. Here, we provide an overview of currently approved and emerging biomarkers of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including EGFR, ALK, ROS1, RET, NTRK1-3, KRAS, BRAF, MET, ERBB2/HER2, NRG1, PD-L1, TROP2, and CEACAM5. For practical purposes, we divide these biomarkers into genomic and protein markers, based on the tested substrate. We review the biology and epidemiology of the genomic and proteomic biomarkers, discuss optimal diagnostic assays for their detection, and highlight their contribution to the contemporary clinical management of NSCLC.