The most common methods applied for in vitro research in non-small cell lung cancer in the last decade

Abstract

Introduction/Aim. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the key tumor markers of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a guideline for the choice of therapeutic procedures. The research aims to evaluate the methods used in the investigation of EGFR variants in NSCLC cell lines and combined research (NSCLC cell lines and patient samples) in the last decade in different geographical areas. Methods. The study included 185 full-text articles in which EGFR mutations were examined on NSCLC cell lines and 37 full-text articles analyzed EGFR variants on combined research, published from January 1, 2010, to April 2020. A descriptive statistic was done using a pivot table in Microsoft Excel 2007 original software. Results. The obtained results showed that Western blot, MTT Cell Viability Assay, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) were used the most in the evaluation of EGFR variants on NSCLC cell lines. In combined research of EGFR variants on cell lines and samples obtained from patients, sequencing, PCR, and Western blot are mostly used. The largest number of published articles of both groups research was published on the Asian continent. Conclusion. There is a difference in the frequency of the most commonly used methods in testing EGFR variants in research on NSCLC cell lines and in combined studies, and the common feature of both types of research is that most of the published full-text articles on EGFR gene variation in NSCLC originate from the Asian continent in the last decade.