Improved detection of T790M Mutation in the EGFR gene at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia A comparative study of dPCR and qPCR technologies over two years

The T790M mutation in the EGFR gene is a critical biomarker of resistance in patients undergoing EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. Accurate and efficient detection of this mutation is essential for guiding treatment decisions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. This study, conducted over two years at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, compared the effectiveness of digital PCR (dPCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) in detecting the EGFR T790M mutation in liquid biopsies of patients with disease progression on EGFR TKIs. Our findings reveal higher detection rate using dPCR (30.48%) compared to qPCR (19.44%). The improved sensitivity of dPCR supports its implementation as a preferred technique for EGFR T790M mutation detection, enhancing clinical decision-making and personalized treatment options for patients with NSCLC.