Comprehensive analysis of EGFR T790M detection by ddPCR and ARMS-PCR and the effect of mutant abundance on the efficacy of osimertinib in NSCLC patients

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations often develop systemic disease progression during treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR are routinely applied for detection of EGFR mutations, including T790M, which is associated with TKI sensitivity. We compared the efficiency of ddPCR and ARMS-PCR in detecting T790M and explored the association between T790M abundance and osimertinib efficacy.