Heather A. Wakelee, MD, FASCO

Panelists discuss strategies for clinicians without access to in-house molecular testing, focusing on how to ensure appropriate turnaround times when outsourcing tests and share insights on the typical timeline for receiving biomarker testing results at their respective institutions.

Panelists discuss the various tests available for detecting genetic mutations in advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including next-generation sequencing (NGS), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Sanger sequencing, and explore whether one method is considered the “gold standard” according to the NCCN guidelines. They also address the appropriate use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing, comparing it to tissue testing in this disease state.

Panelists discuss how molecular testing is crucial in guiding treatment for advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), emphasizing the prevalence of mutations like BRAF, KRAS, MET, RET, and EGFR, and their impact on selecting targeted therapies.

Panelists discuss how the treatment approach for a 67-year-old man with stage IIIB+ non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) awaiting mutation testing involves balancing the urgency of initiating therapy with the importance of molecular testing to guide targeted treatment decisions.

Heather Wakelee, MD, FASCO, discusses the significance of early data on the use of taletrectinib in patients with ROS1-positive non–small cell lung cancer from the phase 2 TRUST-II trial.

Heather Wakelee, MD, FASCO, discusses unmet needs in cancer care stemming from the ongoing platinum chemotherapy shortage in the United States, highlighting the need for newer, better drugs to help treat patients.

Heather Wakelee, MD, FASCO, discusses the clinical significance of updated data from several key trials evaluating perioperative immunotherapy in early-stage non–small cell lung cancer.

Comprehensive review on various neoadjuvant strategies under review in the setting of resectable non–small cell lung cancer.

Expert oncologists briefly highlight the role of liquid biopsy in the setting of advanced-stage non–small cell lung cancer.

A focused discussion on the use of molecular profiling in early-stage non–small cell lung cancer to inform decisions on adjuvant and neoadjuvant strategies.

A brief review of real-world data behind molecular profiling in non–small cell lung cancer, followed by a discussion on barriers to testing and uptake.

Expert panelists share insight on molecular testing practices across all subtypes of non–small cell lung cancer to optimally inform treatment decisions.

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, discusses therapy options when patients with lung cancer must receive treatment options immediately rather than wait for molecular testing results.

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, medical oncologist, thoracic specialist, professor of medicine at Stanford University, discusses results from the phase III IMpower150 trial in non–small cell lung cancer.

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, professor of medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, discusses the rationale to explore osimertinib (Tagrisso) in combination with concurrent chemotherapy in patient with EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer.

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, professor of medicine (oncology), Stanford University Medical Center, discusses osimertinib and its role in treating patients with EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer.

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, associate professor of Medicine (Oncology), Stanford University Medical Center, regent, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) discusses the FDA approval of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in the frontline setting for patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Heather A. Wakelee, MD, associate professor of Medicine (Oncology), Stanford University Medical Center, regent, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) discusses updated efficacy findings from the BIRCH trial, which was a phase II study of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for patients with PD-L1–selected advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Wakelee discussed these findings during an interview at the 2016 IASLC Multidisciplinary Symposium on Thoracic Oncology.