Intraoperative subtyping of lung adenocarcinoma: an unmet need

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is currently the most common cause of cancer-related death throughout the world and is a challenging management problem for clinicians. Despite recent advances in screening modalities and treatment methods, there is still an expected increase in mortality in both developed and developing countries (1,2). The overall survival rate for all patients diagnosed with NSCLC is approximately 15% (2,3), which has not changed despite improvements in imaging techniques and introduction of new chemotherapeutic agents. Among NSCLC, the most common histology is adenocarcinoma (ADC), which accounts for approximately 50% of cases (3,4). In developed countries it is detected at an early-stage only in 25% of cases. The outcome of early-stage lung ADC depends on tumor size, which is currently the primary prognostic factor for disease management.