June 28, 2016, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer -- The College of American Pathologists (CAP), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) announced today the open comment period for the revised evidence-based guideline, "Molecular Testing Guideline for Selection of Lung Cancer Patients for EGFR and ALK Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors."

The open comment period begins today and will close on August 2, 2016. The online format provides an opportunity for public review of new draft recommendations for several key topics, as well as recommendation statements that have been reaffirmed since the initial guideline was jointly published online in April 2013 by Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, The Journal of Thoracic Oncology, and The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.

"In an era of precision medicine, our collective ability to not only understand but leverage the latest breakthroughs in lung cancer research will enable us to provide more precise targeted treatment options. The revised guideline provides a clear framework based on evidence from recently published clinical literature," said Philip T. Cagle, MD, FCAP, medical director of pulmonary pathology in the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital, editor-in-chief of Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and CAP member.
The guideline revisions are designed to provide state-of-the-art molecular testing of lung cancer recommendations for pathologists, oncologists, and other cancer and molecular diagnostic laboratory professionals. The revisions are all based on evidence from an unbiased review of published experimental literature since 2013 and include the recommendations from an expert panel of renowned worldwide leaders in the field. The final recommendations will be approved and jointly published after consideration of the public comments, further panel discussion, and a complete evidence analysis. For more information and to provide comments, visit https://www.iaslc.org/articles/capiaslcamp-molecular-testing-guideline-open-comment-period.

"The revised guideline reinforces the importance of molecular testing, establishes molecular testing standards, and helps guide targeted therapies for lung cancer," said Yasushi Yatabe, MD, PhD, chief of the Department of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics at Aichi Cancer Center in Nagoya, Japan, and IASLC member. "We strongly encourage our peers to provide feedback to ensure our draft recommendations are sound, practical, and implementable, so we can all support best clinical practices and provide optimal care to our patients."

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