The Role of Molecular Profiling in Small Cell Lung Cancer

Ariel Lopez-Chavez, MD, medical oncologist, director of precision medicine and developmental therapeutics at Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, discusses how comprehensive genomic profiling may impact the treatment and clinical management of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

According to Lopez-Chavez, comprehensive molecular profiling is typically reserved for specific scenarios and patients with SCLC. He notes that molecular profiling is particularly valuable for patients with SCLC who have never smoked, as SCLC primarily tends to affect those who are heavy smokers.

He also explains that profiling is crucial at the time of diagnosis for nonsmokers or when there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, such as distinguishing SCLC from large cell carcinoma.

Lopez-Chavez then moves on by explaining that molecular profiling can be beneficial after disease relapse when exploring alternative therapeutic options. While molecular profiling plays a limited role in the frontline setting, its utility in specific cases highlights its importance in guiding personalized treatment strategies.

Transcription:

0:10 | So, in the frontline setting, it does not necessarily have such a big role. Mainly it is reserved for patients that have never smoked because small cell lung cancer, being a disease mainly in people that have smoked heavily, whenever we have a patient that has never smoked, we think that comprehensive molecular profiling is important right at diagnosis or when there are questions in regards to the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer.

0:40 | If there is a question of small cell vs large cell carcinoma or the diagnosis is not clear, then definitely it is recommended. Or, the other option would be, once the patient relapses or they may be looking for other therapies, then, comprehensive molecular profiling may offer something there. But in general, it is not reflexively done like in the case of non–small cell lung cancer.