Next-generation Sequencing in Lung Adenocarcinoma: Which One is Better: Focus Oncomine Solid Tumor Panel or Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation Analysis?

This retrospective observational audit was conducted to compare the efficacy of single-gene testing vs multigene panel-based testing in the molecular characterization of lung adenocarcinoma and metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.A total of 39 histopathologically confirmed cases were analyzed.Of these, 20 underwent epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by automated sequencing, while 19 were subjected to a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based multigene solid tumor panel.Among the panel-tested group, mutations were detected in 15 of 19 cases (79%), including EGFR mutations in 27%, TP53 mutations in 20%, and concurrent EGFR and TP53 mutations in 27%.Additional findings comprised comutations such as KRAS and ATM (13%), APC and TP53 (6.6%), and KIT and TP53 (6.6%).In contrast, EGFR mutations were identified in only seven of 20 cases (35%) using single-gene testing, with no additional molecular alterations detected.This analysis, though limited in sample size, reaffirms existing evidence supporting the superiority of multigene panel testing over single-gene assays in terms of diagnostic yield, especially in uncovering coexisting or uncommon mutations that may carry therapeutic or prognostic significance.The findings underscore the advantages of panel-based approaches, particularly in clinical scenarios constrained by limited tissue availability, where broad genomic profiling offers a more comprehensive molecular landscape without requiring sequential tests.While the results corroborate already established data, they also highlight the practical value of implementing multigene testing in routine diagnostic workflows.A larger prospective study may further elucidate the clinical impact of such comprehensive molecular profiling in therapeutic decision-making for patients with lung adenocarcinoma.