Cell block samples from endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration provide sufficient material for ancillary testing in lung cancer—a quaternary referral centre experience

Advances in the field of molecular biology and chemotherapeutic agents now mean that it is no longer sufficient to describe lung cancers as small cell lung cancer (SCLC) or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular markers can provide important information to the clinician planning treatment. IHC is now essential to subtype NSCLC and plan patient management. The most well published example of molecular marking testing in lung cancer is in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma and somatic mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) domain who can be treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors to achieve prolonged progression free survival whether offered as first-line, second-line or maintenance treatment (1)