Oncogenic-Directed Therapy for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Implications for the Advanced Practice Nurse

Biomarker testing and testing for oncogenic driver variants is an essential component in the diagnosis of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results of these tests guide personalized targeted therapy in patients with NSCLC harboring an oncogenic driver. Advanced practice nurses are at the center of coordinating care for patients with NSCLC from the time of diagnosis and have a role in assuring appropriate testing is ordered and therapy is selected based on testing results.

AT A GLANCE

• Oncogenic driver variant tests allow for pre­cise diagnoses and treatment plans in NSCLC.
• Keeping abreast of clinical practice guidelines helps to ensure the proper tests are done, revealing genetic markers that guide the trajec­tory of treatments.
• Advanced practice nurses must understand lung cancer genomics to educate patients about the importance of testing and explain the treatments based on results.