Molecular genetic tests in survival factors in patients with NSCLC in the clinical practice of Kazakhstan

Background: Recent changes in understanding of the nature of cancer allow us, in some cases, to consider it a chronic process that requires constant or periodic treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of the methods for diagnosis and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the Republic of Kazakhstan and present scientifically proven methods for the improvement of existing diagnostic algorithms and treatment programs. Methods: This work was a retrospective study. A retrospective study using descriptive and analytical statistics was used as the main method. Reported data and medical records of the patients with NSCLC who were treated from 2015 to 2017 in 6 oncology clinics in the Republic of Kazakhstan were used as study materials. The methods used for histological studies and influence of the patient's sex on the frequency of various histological forms of NSCLC were studied. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies to determine the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene status as well as surgical methods were also studied. Results: A comparative analysis of the compliance of oncologists from various regions of the republic with molecular genetic testing as an essential component of the diagnosis of NSCLC showed that the coverage of patients with immunohistochemical (IHC) and PCR studies in this country is low, 50.9% and 21.2%, respectively. The study included data on 423 patients. At the same time, the majority of studies, 64.2% (IHC) and 100% (PCR), were performed in patients in Almaty and only 35.8% of IHC studies were performed in other 5 regions included in this study. Conclusion: The morphological verification of malignant neoplasms in the lungs was based on histological studies. IHC and PCR coverage of the patients in the country was low. Most of the patients received pharmacotherapy. Surgical interventions were rarely performed. Also, the lack of IHC status data were a risk factor for the patients with NSCLC.