Molecular divergence in lung adenosquamous carcinoma

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung is a rare and aggressive subtype of non-small cell lung cancer, consisting of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma components. The pathogenesis remains unclear, the diag­nosis is challenging and underrecognized, and the therapeutic strategy requires further investigation. We report a case of a patient with adenosquamous lung cancer presenting different molecular profiles between the two tumor components sampled from the primary lesion and metastatic lymph nodes, who was treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In addition, we summarised the available evidence on TKI effectiveness in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated adenosquamous carcinoma, suggesting potential therapeutic benefit in this subgroup with emphasis on existing diagnostic limitations and the need to deepen the current knowledge.