Seven major US medical centers are embarking on tumor genotyping programs for lung cancer in order to improve cancer research, recruit patients for clinical trials and tailor drug treatment. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) is currently testing all lung adenocarcinoma patients for the EML4-ALK fusion gene, as well as 40 additional mutations found in seven other genes. Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) is testing its lung adenocarcinoma patients for 113 mutations found in 13 genes. Both centers plan to add tumor genotyping tests for additional cancer types. Setting up the programs has been complicated, with the centers having to add more molecular diagnostics labs and tissue banks. MGH estimates the cost of tumor genetic analysis for research to be $2,000. MSKCC estimates that its test costs $500–$1,000. Intellectual property issues surrounding the tests could also be an issue.

Source: Science